Illawarra coronavirus vaccine: IRT Woonona residents first to receive the jab

The Illawarra’s first aged care residents have received the coronavirus vaccine, with one saying that despite hating needles, she was looking forward to the jab.

The Illawarra’s first group of aged care residents were vaccinated against coronavirus today, with residents at a Woonona home at the top of the list to receive the jab.

On Wednesday, health professionals arrived at IRT Woonona to administer the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID vaccine to 144 residents.

More than 80 per cent of the 168 residents at the Woonona centre consented to the jab, including 66-year-old Anthony Hardy and 85-year-old Elizabeth Gunter.

After she was vaccinated, Ms Gunter said it had made her “feel safe” and that she was “glad” to finally receive it.

“I’ve been psyching myself up for it,” she said.

IRT Group CEO Patrick Reid said he was pleased at just how smoothly the process had been for residents and staff.

Anthony Hardy, 66, receives his coronavirus vaccine at IRT Woonona.

“Apart from a tight timeline, the process appears to be settling into a good rhythm that should see a majority of aged care residents and staff vaccinated quickly,” he said.

“I’m hearing that the residents and families are all very happy with the way it’s gone.

“The staff at IRT Woonona know the residents well and have been extra attentive throughout the day, introducing them to the nurses and doctors onsite administering the vaccine.”

While IRT residents were originally set to receive their shots on February 22, national delays forced the vaccine provider, Health Care Australia, to slow down the roll out.

More aged care residents are scheduled for vaccinations at IRT Tarrawanna on Fridays, while people in homes at Corrimal, Thirroul and Stanwell Park are set to get the jab later this week.

Wednesday marked 45 days without any locally acquired cases in NSW. The news comes just two days after Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt revealed NSW was set to receive 80,000 COVID vaccine doses over the next nine days.