
Royal Australian Air Force Squadron Leader Walter Goedde administers a Covid-19 Vaccination to a member of the Orange community as a part of the NSW Operation COVID-19 Assist. Photo: CPL Dustin Anderson
The Australian Defence Force (ADF) returns next Wednesday to run their COVID-19 Vaccine Pop Up Clinic with Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD).
The clinic staff will be administering second doses of the COVID-19 Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccinations, following the doses originally given on September 1. It will be set up at the showground once more.
WNSWLHD Chief Executive Scott McLachlan said the ADF will not be delivering first doses, and it isn’t a walk-in clinic.
“The people who received the Pfizer vaccine will be contacted with advice on when they can return to their relevant clinic to receive their second dose,” said Mr McLachlan.
“Those who received AstraZeneca will be contacted with advice on how to receive their second dose of the vaccine, in line with the recommended interval between first and second doses.”
All doses were distributed at the initial clinic. The community’s response should be the same this time.
Residents reported long wait times on the 1st for the month, with people before the gates opened and queuing.
Mr McLachlan hopes scheduled appointments can prevent this happening again.
“We’re asking people to be flexible and head down to the clinics at the time they are allocated. We understand this might cause some disruption, but it has never been more important to ensure you have that protection of a second dose,” he said.
“Through our clinics and other providers, we have never had better access to vaccines than we do right now. We need to take this opportunity to protect everyone in our communities.”
Further Vaccine Pop Up Clinics will be at Cowra Showground Heritage Pavilion on September 24 and 25 and in Orange from September 27 to October 3.
You can visit the GP Clinic on Gaskill Street, the Cowra Respiratory Service or Optimal Pharmacy + Health Hub in Cowra for the AstraZeneca vaccine shot.