A number of Pfizer vaccine appointments have been cancelled in the Murrumbidgee Local Health District after NSW Health announced it would "re-allocate" 40,000 doses from the rural and regional supply to help get year 12 students back to in-person schooling.

In a recent newspaper column, Deputy Premier John Barilaro said when regional communities battled drought, bushfires and now the global pandemic, "our city cousins" rolled up their sleeves to help.

Mr Barilaro said it is time for regional NSW to "repay the favour" by supporting the move to redistribute vaccines so year 12 students can get the jab. But residents say the choice has left them with "no control" and feeling left behind.

Former Riverina woman Di Rosser, who now lives on the central coast, is classed as a "priority person" but has not even been able to book.

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"I am a cancer patient and originally when the vaccine first became available I was still having chemo," she said.

"I finished that in April and I haven't been able to get an appointment. It makes me really angry. I actually decided I am going to get Astra Zeneca because it could be December before I get Pfizer and I am supposed to be a priority person but the whole system seems to be in first-in, best-dressed."

Ms Rosser said while she understood that the situation in Greater Sydney was dire, she was at a loss as to why the vaccines were not being re-allocated for priority groups. She said it was also incredibly vexing as vaccines are being taken from the central coast, but they are also in a lockdown.

Ms Rosser's sentiments were echoed by Wagga resident Greg Wiscombe, who said it can feel like the regions are being left behind.

The 54-year-old and his wife had booked a Pfizer appointment at the MLHD hub but got a text on the weekend to say his had been cancelled.

"I would prefer Pfizer, I have been lucky enough to be able to source it through the GP," Mr Wiscombe said. "It's disappointing that it's come to this."

Mr Wiscombe said he would understand the situation more if the vaccines were going to vulnerable groups, but queried why was there not a plan in place for an HSC in lockdown.

When asked what he thought of commentary that it was time to repay the favour to Sydney, Mr Wiscombe said "we have no control".

"It feels as though regional NSW gets treated like second-class citizens," he said. "If we can't have the vaccine then they should at least put a ring of steel around Sydney."

In response to questions from The Daily Advertiser Mr Barilaro said the biggest threat to regional NSW was the Sydney outbreak.

"The diversion of some Pfizer vaccines earmarked for the regions is short term and we will continue to see more and more vaccines become available over the next few weeks, with regional NSW first to see those replenishments," he said.

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