Less than 1000 Covid vaccines delivered daily in Northern NSW until now

Health authorities say there is “definitely room for improvement” in the number of people coming forward for their Covid jabs, but the arrival of the Pfizer vaccine could be a game-changer.

Less than 1000 Covid vaccines have been delivered on average every day in Northern NSW, according to data from Healthy North Coast.

CEO Julie Sturgess confirmed that as of June 15, more than 110,000 vaccine doses had been administered across the Healthy North Coast footprint, which covers from Tweed Heads to Port Macquarie and inland.

Since the vaccination program commenced on February 26 in Northern NSW, that means an average of around 900 per day since the rollout commenced.

But it appears the number of people coming forward for their jabs has dramtically increased in recent times.

“On the North Coast, we are receiving around 26,000 vaccinations a week,” Ms Sturgess said.

“We are delivering about 20,000 vaccinations a week, so there is definitely room for improvement, and that’s why we are encouraging people to get their vaccination.

“In some areas it’s about availability, but in a lot of areas vaccine was available but not all used.”

Asked what areas had seen demand for vaccines being below the number of doses available, Mr Sturgess said a couple were worth mentioning.

“Probably Grafton and Lismore, but there are additional pop up clinics that have been added there from the local hospital, some in shopping malls,” she said.

“We are very keen for people to go to the eligibility checker, from that they can work out what vaccine is best for them, and they can see the providers close to them that have availability,” she said.

Julie Sturgess, CEO at Healthy North Coast.

Healthy North Coast has begun delivering Pfizer Covid vaccines in the area, with the first 200 being delivered from the Ballina Covid Vaccination and testing Clinic in Tamar street from this week.

Dr Tonia Coren, Principal GP at First Light Healthcare, said vaccines that have not been used in the Tamar St Covid clinic have been transferred to areas with more demand.

“I don’t think we’ve had doses that have expired, but if we have not gone through our allocation, given that we have a large allocation, we have been able to transfer vaccines to other clinics that have been wanting more,” she said.

Dr Coren had her second dose of Astra Zeneca covid vaccine at the Tamar St clinic this week.