Readers share their frustration about trying to book Covid vaccination

Readers have shared their frustrations about long wait times to make a booking, and even longer wait times to get the vaccination.

People are being urged to get vaccinated against Covid-19, but can the system keep up with demand?. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Bianca De Marchi

Calls by the Prime Minister and the NSW Premier for people to get vaccinated as soon as possible was putting pressure on an already overladen local health system.

While the rallying calls were warranted, were the logistics in place to provide the vaccine in a timely manner?

Were there enough vaccinations, were there enough people to administer the vaccinations, and were there enough people manning the phone lines to take the bookings?

According to our readers, it would seem the answer to all of those questions was “no”.

They say difficulty in securing a booking, and long wait times was hampering their ability to get vaccinated quickly.

The Federal Government was responsible for the vaccination rollout, and State health districts had the task of delivering it. But were enough funds being allocated to ensure the demand was being met quickly?

People were worried about the current Covid outbreak that has prompted lockdowns across the country, and they rushed to answer the call to get vaccinated.

But on the Northern Rivers, they were facing waits of between four to eight weeks to get the Pfizer vaccination.

We see footage from capital cities where drop-in vaccination centres have been opened. And while people face long queues, they at least had the option to get vaccinated immediately.

In a move to counter the shortfall of Pfizer vaccines, the National Cabinet introduced a no-fault indemnity scheme allowing people under 60 to get the AstraZeneca vaccination, “if they wanted”.

But who was willing to take the risk?

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation recommended the Pfizer vaccine as the safest for people under 60 due to the risk of AstraZeneca causing blood clotting in that age group.

Readers told us on Facebook about their frustration in getting the vaccination, here’s what some had to say:

Maria Moy: “In Lismore had to wait until mid August but in Ballina end of July, for Pfizer. I’d get the jab tomorrow if I could”.

Jen Thomas: “Impossible for my hubby through the government website, and his GP doesn’t stock Pfizer”.

Lyndall Parker: “It’s been over a month since I went through the government website and my local GP in Lismore don’t have the Pfizer!! I still waiting to hear from them the hospital for date … Not happy!!”.

Neil Butler: “I managed to book today a jab at Lismore but had to wait almost an hour on the phone and the jab is almost in a months time”.

Gabrielle Murphy: “I called them (Ballina Vaccination Clinic) today and they said they were booked up for eight weeks”.

Julie Marr: “They won’t even take phone calls”.

Local health authorities say they are doing all they can to meet the demand for vaccinations.

Acting Chief Executive, Northern NSW Local Health District, Lynne Weir said they had expanded clinic hours and were allocating more staff to call centres to take bookings.

A spokesperson for Healthy North Coast said more appointments would become available as more vaccines became available.

People were thanked for their patience, and asked to keep trying to make a booking.