Riverina residents with only one dose of a COVID-19 vaccine feel like they are being "punished" due to the new rules, but Wagga's MP said it is a necessary measure.
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Since October 11, anyone who had not received both of their COVID-19 vaccines has been facing stricter controls.
Rules for those who are not fully vaccinated including only gathering outdoors in groups of two, non-critical retail shopping can only be accessed via click and collect, and restaurants and hospitality venues can only be able to offer takeaway.
Griffith resident Seona Cremasco said it is incredibly frustrating that she has been locked out of so many things when she has been doing the right thing.
"Even just today, I can't take my toddler to swimming lessons because you have to be double-vaxxed," she said.
"I now lose out on half the fee for the week."
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The 33-year-old mum said she decided to get Astra Zeneca on August 24 when it was available at a local pharmacist, as it was the first chance she had.
"In Griffith, we have no cases, the majority of the town is single-dose vaxxed, and we are on track to be double-dosed very soon," she said.
"Most people are doing the right thing by wearing masks, social distancing, booking in for restaurants to support them and getting the vaccine. But, now we are being penalised because we got access to the doses later."
Ms Cremasco said the rules feel pointless as people from Greater Sydney cannot even come into regional areas at the moment.
Ashmont resident Joyce Lucas said it feels as though the state government's decisions around restrictions are based on what's happening in Sydney.
The 69-year-old said she tried a few times to get a vaccine appointment but awas not able to get Astra Zeneca until she went into a chemist.
"I am punished for doing the right thing for my area," Ms Lucas said. "I am basically in lockdown again."
Wagga MP Joe McGirr said that it was a frustrating situation, adding his office had received a lot of feedback, particularly from people who have only had their first dose.
He acknowledged their freedoms had been restricted, and for some, they were only partially vaccinated due to supply issues at the start of the rollout in the regions.
"Can I just say this? We are even more at risk now in our community because of the opening up in Sydney and Canberra," Dr McGirr said.
"We are at risk of what I call incursions of the virus - people coming here when they shouldn't be and people coming here for official business.
"And so keeping some distinction between fully vaccinated and unvaccinated access for a few weeks, I think is reasonable."
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