The Southern NSW Local Health District started COVID-19 vaccination of Far South Coast health workers at South East Regional Hospital (SERH) on Tuesday, March 2.
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The NSW government has also announced Wollongong as a COVID-19 vaccination hub from March 15, where staff from Bombala, Braidwood, Cooma, Delegate and Goulburn will be vaccinated.
In a statement SNSWLHD said the first staff to receive COVID-19 vaccinations in Bega will be those at highest risk of exposure to COVID-19 positive patients. This group includes workers in emergency departments, aged care and COVID-19 testing clinics from Batemans Bay to Eden.
Chief executive Margaret Bennett said it was "an important turning point for a region that has faced significant challenges in recent years following drought, bushfires and floods".
"We are so pleased that our Priority 1a health workers will be among the first Australians to receive a COVID-19 vaccination," Ms Bennett said.
"Our teams have worked tirelessly managing our local COVID-19 response. We are encouraged and relieved to know those frontline staff will all be immunised in coming weeks."
Liverpool Hospital will manage the outreach clinic at SERH.
Meanwhile, on February 24, GPs were advised whether they were successful in their application to provide COVID vaccinations to members of the public as part of the vaccination plan.
Asked about the process to extend vaccinations to other areas of the community a Department of Health spokeswoman said providing access to safe and effective COVID-19 vaccines to everyone living in Australia seeking to be vaccinated was a key priority of the Australian government.
The spokeswoman said Australia's COVID-19 Vaccine National Roll-out Strategy was underpinned by multiple parts of the health system working together.
She said this would ensure "everyone in Australia has access to COVID-19 vaccines".
"General practices, along with general practitioner led respiratory clinics, Aboriginal community controlled health services and community pharmacies will form the primary care vaccination plan.
"Over 4600 general practices have been approved to participate in Phase 1b of the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out," the spokeswoman said.
Initial sites are expected to commence from later in March, with general practices being on-boarded within weeks of Phase 1b commencement.
All general practices, including those not involved in Phase 1b, are expected to have the opportunity to participate in future phases.
