CHO 'very concerned' about regional NSW following Hunter outbreak

Member for Murray Helen Dalton, who condemned the reallocation decision, welcomed news that the vaccines would soon be replaced.

Gladys Berejiklian said the Prime Minister personally called her on Wednesday night and confirmed that an extra 180,000 doses of Pfizer will be given by the federal government to NSW over the next two weeks.

From the week beginning August 16, the doses taken from regional NSW and given to Year 12 students in high-priority areas of Sydney will be replenished.

"The people have spoken and it's thumbs up for people power," Ms Dalton said. She previously called on the public to sign a parliamentary petition calling for the doses to be returned, which garnered roughly 4000 signatures.

Ms Dalton argued that the reallocation hasn't been the answer to lowering case numbers in Sydney.

"I feel for them, I really do, I think it's a tough time, but really - vaccinating Year 12 students with Pfizer is not going to stop the spread of COVID," she said.

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Ms Berejiklian defended her initial decision to redistribute Pfizer doses to the city, arguing that it was important for every child to be able to sit the HSC exams. She also argued that it would have been logistically difficult to offer both AstraZeneca and Pfizer to students, instead offering only Pfizer.

"When you're asking high schools to come forward it's so much easier and efficient to vaccinate all high school students at the same time, at the same place, during the course of four or five days," Ms Berejiklian said.

Meanwhile, a huge number of residents across the Riverina - and regional NSW as a whole - had their vaccine appointments cancelled after the doses were redirected.

Wagga MP Dr Joe McGirr said the decision to reallocate Pfizer doses was "reasonable" in the context of aiming to keep the virus in Sydney and out of the regions.

"It clearly has upset people, it's clearly caused a lot of anxiety," he acknowledged.

"I think (the additional doses from the federal government) will certainly ease the anxiety in the community, which is good."

Ms Dalton said that it would be a "catastrophe" if COVID reached the Riverina, especially in light of an outbreak in the Hunter region - allegedly linked to visitors from Greater Sydney.

"If it was to get into those communities it would be just devastating, because our healthcare has been cut to the bone over the years," she said.

"We've really got to look after our own before we start looking after those that are probably better resourced than we are."

A Murrumbidgee Local Health District spokesperson said those whose booking were cancelled "will be rebooked to ensure they are the first to receive the new doses".

"NSW Health has begun work on reinstating these bookings and further information will be available soon. We thank everybody for their patience and understanding," they added.

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