Wagga's first COVID-19 vaccines were administered to aged care residents on Friday morning after a 48-hour delay to the rollout's start.
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Mary Potter Nursing Home at Wagga's Forrest Centre was the first in the city to start administering its residents with the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine at 8.30am after the vaccines arrived by courier that morning.
Resident Ray Bedford, aged 86, who used to own the Ariah Park Post Office with his late wife Lynette, said he was "all good" after being "the first cab off the rank" for the vaccine.
"I would recommend it to everybody," he said.
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Mr Bedford said it was good to have extra protection from coronavirus as "you never know that someone coming in from outside could be carrying the strain".
"At least with the vaccinations, you're doing your best to prevent it and our age group are pretty suss to it," he said.
Resident Beryl Wright, a retired cook aged 83, said she had "no complaints" after getting the vaccine.
"I didn't even feel it. I've had no reaction and I feel 100 per cent," she said.
Executive care manager for The Forrest Centre, Tania Tellus, said they were planning on vaccinating 72 residents with a high percentage consenting to the injection except for a few with religious objections.
"I think it's a momentous occasion in history as we were the first facility in Wagga to get the vaccination," she said.
Ms Tellus said it had been "a slow process at the start" due to staffing issues with the external vaccine provider.
"The residents have been waiting in anticipation and they're very excited to be part of the historic process," she said.
"It just gives them a bit more reassurance that there's another backup in place."
Some Wagga aged care centres were due to start vaccinating their residents on Wednesday but the supplier for NSW and Queensland, Healthcare Australia (HCA), advised that delivery had been pushed back.
Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt on Thursday afternoon said that HCA had "slowed down" its vaccine delivery in some areas of NSW in response to a "demand from the [Health Department] that they provide an absolute guarantee of clinical certainty and quality" following an incorrect dosage at a Brisbane aged care centre.
Murrumbidgee Primary Health Network chief executive Melissa Neal said the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine was "logistically challenging and complex".
"In the Murrumbidgee, specifically Wagga, there have been some delays in the rollout this week which means some residents have not received their vaccines when initially planned," she said.
"We are now pleased to confirm the first of the vaccinations have now commenced in Wagga, and this will continue over the next few days.
"We would like to thank all aged care facilities for their preparation and we will continue to stay connected with the Commonwealth and each of the facilities to keep them updated."
Deputy Prime Minister and Riverina MP Michael McCormack said Wagga was well placed to receive the vaccine despite the delay.
"Wagga, and indeed regional Australia, is in an enviable position compared to most of the world when it comes to COVID-19 - we have not had a local case for many months," he said.
"We have been our best selves right throughout this pandemic and I thank everyone for doing their part and continuing to be patient as the vaccination rollout continues.
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