COVID-19 vaccine rollout in regional NSW to start on March 15

COVID-19 vaccinations will roll out across the regional areas of NSW from March 15, with five major hubs and 99 satellite sites. FIND YOUR NEAREST HUB HERE.

Frontline and border control workers in the bush will start to be vaccinated in two weeks.

The vaccine will roll out across the state from Monday, March 15, when five major hubs are opened at Newcastle, Wollongong, Wagga Wagga, Coffs Harbour and Dubbo Hospitals.

Frontline health and emergency workers were among the first in NSW to get the COVID-19 vaccination at the RPA vaccination hub. Picture: Toby Zerna

The Pfizer vaccine vials will be dispatched from the five hubs to 99 satellite sites in smaller rural and regional communities throughout late-March and April.

Vaccinations that began in Australia on Monday have so far been administered to the metropolitan frontline workers at greatest threat from overseas arrivals.

The first three hubs were set up at Westmead, Liverpool and Royal Prince Alfred ­hospitals.

However health authorities are particularly eager to vaccinate frontline workers that meet overseas freighters arriving at ports in Wollongong and Newcastle.

“The regions have endured so much, from years of drought, bushfires, floods and now COVID,” Deputy Premier John Barilaro said.

“The resilience and patience demonstrated in regional communities is unlike anything I’ve ever seen.

“People in regional NSW have never been afraid to roll up their sleeves.

“Soon we will have the confidence and assurance we need to live fully and remain open for business.”

The first phase of the vaccine program is on track, according to Premier Gladys Berejiklian.

“NSW is on track to achieve its goal of more than 35,000 vaccinations in the first three weeks, with thousands of frontline workers already receiving their first doses thanks to excellent work of our NSW Health staff in the three initial hubs,” Ms Berejiklian said.

Vaccine vials from the Newcastle hub will be sent to towns including Armidale, Tamworth and Taree. Vaccines from the Wollongong hub will go out to places like Shellharbour, Shoalhaven and Cooma.

Vaccines from the Coffs Harbour hub will be sent to towns including Port Macquarie, Lismore and Grafton. Vaccines sent to the Dubbo hub will make their way to towns including Orange, Bathurst and Mudgee.

Vaccines sent to Wagga will be dispatched to towns including Griffith, Deniliquin and Finley.