MURRUMBIDGEE health workers are closing in on a major milestone having tested almost 100,000 people for COVID-19 since the pandemic began.
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Equating to roughly one in every three people in the health district being tested, the region's health officials say it isn't time to slow down.
The push comes after NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said restrictions would only be eased once COVID-19 testing rates increased in the community.
"I can't stress enough the importance of people coming forward and getting tested," she said.
"All of us want to see those restrictions we have in place eased ... That will only be possible if we get those high rates of testing to give our health experts the confidence that we are on top of any unknown strains of the virus."
Despite a vaccine ready to be administered to Murrumbidgee Local Health District residents by mid-February, the message still stands.
MLHD's Executive Director of Medical Services Len Bruce said being vaccinated did not mean you are 100 per cent immune to the virus.
"Currently, we have no evidence that having the vaccine will stop you from transmitting the virus to someone else, and I think that's really, really important to remember," he said.
"That's why it's important to know, even if you have a vaccination, if you become symptomatic, you should still go and get a COVID-19 test done, even if you might not become that unwell."
Dr Bruce said the best way to describe it was in comparison to the influenza vaccine.
"The reason we vaccinate against influenza is to prevent severe illness, hospitalisation and death," he said.
"All studies so far prove that vaccinations are really effective in preventing people from getting severely unwell, but we really don't know how long this COVID-19 vaccination will protect you for because it's only been tested for the last few months.
"So it may become an annual vaccine like influenza, we just don't know at this stage."
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"There are obviously specific intricacies with delivering a vaccine that is new to development, but we have robust systems in place both within the MLHD, state and commonwealth levels to monitor the vaccine's safety and potential adverse events following the vaccination," he said.
"Given the fact it is a new and unknown entity, we will be actively monitoring for adverse effects, specifically anaphylaxis."
An allergic reaction was the most likely adverse effect of the vaccine, according to Mr Evola, but one that people should not fear when getting the jab.
"The vaccination overall is very safe with very low rates of adverse events like anaphylaxis, or even death," he said.
"With the COVID-19 vaccine, there have been increased reports of some adverse events in Norway recently, and globally speaking, there's been a higher rate of anaphylaxis, but such a reaction can be very well managed.
"Our nurse immunisers are very well trained to manage anaphylaxis, as well as recognise it in order to manage it. It's something we know how to handle and can handle very well, and shouldn't be a reason stopping someone from getting the vaccine."
Dr Bruce added that the rollout date should also put people's minds at ease.
"The reassuring fact is that they brought the rollout of the vaccine forward by about a month, so clearly they are confident they can manage it," he said.