Wagga's COVID-19 vaccine providers say there is a strong demand for booster shots in the city and they will be able to cope if the interval period is dropped to four months.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
The Murrumbidgee Local Health District and GP clinics are now offering the booster shots that are designed to reduce the risk of infection from the Omicron COVID-19 variant.
Wagga's pharmacies are also joining in the effort to administer the vaccines.
Glenrock Country Practice director Dr Ayman Shenouda said his respiratory clinic had extra doses to meet demand for booster shots after Christmas.
"If the interval is reduced to four months, it will shake things up a bit, like it did when it was reduced from six to five months, but I think we are still ready," he said.
"It depends on our capacity as to how we roll it out, but we are working hard to address the issue and we'll try to vaccinate as many people as we can."
There are now more than 100 locations across the MLHD where people can receive their first, second or booster dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
"We urge people to get their booster dose as soon as they are eligible, to best protect yourself, your loved ones and the community from the ongoing transmission of COVID-19," an MLHD spokesperson said.
"If you are due for your booster over the Christmas-New Year period, you can have it a little earlier."
The Yathong Street vaccination clinic near the Wagga Base Hospital will be open right up until 2pm on Christmas Eve for walk-in vaccinations, including boosters.
Dr Shenouda said booster shots would help people avoid being infected with COVID-19 and encouraged all eligible people to get their third dose.
"The data that's coming in recently shows that the third shot would really help with the Omicron and the prevention of disease, up to 80 per cent prevention," he said.
Southcity Pharmacy owner Luke Van der Rijt said there had been a strong demand for booster shots in Wagga.
"Most pharmacies that participated in the initial vaccinations will also offer booster shots ... there has been a lot of demand, especially when they brought eligibility forward to five months," he said.
"Unfortunately, they didn't give us or the GPs enough notice, so everyone was caught off-guard with their stock.
"In January, there should be a good supply of stock. I'd encourage everyone to come forward and get vaccinated as that gives the community the best protection from the new variants."
NSW ended its mask rule for most indoor areas on December 15 but Dr Shenouda said people should keep wearing them if possible.
"Personally, I would wear a mask. If it's an extra precaution that I can afford to do and is simple to do that can protect me and protect others, why shouldn't I do it?" he said.
Toni Daly and mother-in-law Patricia Daly, both from Temora, were among the minority wearing or carrying masks on Wagga's Baylis Street yesterday amid a crowd of Christmas shoppers.
Toni Daly said she continued to wear a mask while visiting shops "because of safety".
"There are too many people around and you don't know how many cases have been diagnosed and they don't say where the exposure sites are anymore," she said.
Another shopper, who asked not to be named, said they planned to continue wearing a mask in public areas until at least after Christmas.
Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can continue to access our trusted content:
- Bookmark dailyadvertiser.com.au
- Follow us on Twitter
- Follow us on Instagram
- Follow us on Google News
- Make sure you are signed up for our breaking and regular headlines newsletters