More NSW suburbs hit up to 89 per cent full vaccination

The Daily Telegraph can reveal the parts of our state with the highest rates of vaccinations. Find out if you live in one.

Western Sydney residents are jumping at the prospect of reopening businesses and kickstarting a return to normal life after some suburbs scored an almost 100 per cent full vaccination rate.

A staggering 90 per cent of eligible residents in Schofields and Edmondson Park along with Newcastle West have all received both doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

Suburbs from the 2765 postcode are not far behind them with between 80 to 89 per cent of residents in Berkshire Park, Box Hill, Maraylya, Marsden Park, Nelson, Oakville, Riverstone and Vineyard being full vaccinated.

As well, popular tourist destination Lord Howe Island, which sits 600km off the east coast and is home to about 380 people, has reached the same 80 to 89 per cent double dose bracket.

But inner-city districts including Chippendale, Darlington, Kingsford and Waterloo along with north coast hipster central Byron Bay are lagging behind at 30 to 39 per cent double jabbed.

Premier Gladys Berejiklian delivered an ultimatum to Byron Bay residents that if they don’t roll up their sleeves in time, they will lose out on freedoms next months.

“Some communities like Byron have a large, larger percentage of people who choose not to be vaccinated … that’s their choice. But they won’t be able to participate in the activities vaccinated people will,” she said.

“We also know there is obviously pockets of resistance there, not large though, they are identified in certain locations and obviously in vulnerable communities.”

Gurleen Bawa, an Edmondson Park jewellery business owner and diabetic educator, has been fully vaccinated since June.

Nurses are seen conducting Covid-19 tests in Sydney. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

She said the community had played their part in surpassing the state’s vaccination target and deserved to reap the benefits with greater freedoms.

“Reaching that number (90 per cent) is so great. We need that because we want to go out and engage as a community. I personally miss all my clients,” Mrs Bawa said.

“We have done the right thing here. We have followed the restrictions, the rules, the lockdown.

“We see the photos circulating of Bondi. We’re not going out like some people are, so I think we definitely deserve a bit more freedom here.”

Suburbs like Auburn and Fairfield are still struggling to meet a high vaccination rate like some of their western counterparts but indicate a more promising result than their Sydney city neighbours with an 80 to 89 per cent first vaccination dose.

A nurse getting a nose swab. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

Gold-scorers in Sydney’s west and other regions were urged by chief health officer Dr Kerry Chant to continue to aim higher.

“I urge you to be one of the most highly vaccinated populations in the state. Yes, you’ve achieved 80 per cent in some of your local government areas. Yes, you’ve achieved 90 per cent in some, I am challenging you to even push further.”

Dr Chant said there were still some shortfalls in vaccination rates for elderly people and those in their 50s and 70s.