Operations expanded as District works to vaccinate the community.

Sydney Local Health District has ramped up its capacity to deliver COVID-19 vaccines to tens-of-thousands of people who are now eligible to book priority appointments to be immunised.

People aged 16 – 59 years who live in 12 local government areas of concern are now eligible to book a priority appointment for the Pfizer vaccine.

NSW Health is working to deliver an extra 530,000 doses of the vaccine provided by the Commonwealth Government to this priority group over the next two-and-a-half weeks.

The NSW Health Vaccination Centre at Sydney Olympic Park, which is managed by the District, is one of 10 priority clinics where people aged 16 – 39 are able to book an appointment.

The Centre’s capacity to administer COVID-19 vaccines has been expanded and the Centre’s hours have also been extended. It will now be open for bookings from 730am – 915pm, seven days a week.

Bookings are essential and both vaccine doses must be booked at the same clinic.

The District is also running a series of pop-up Pfizer vaccination clinics in the community for people who are aged 16 – 59 and live in any of the local government areas of concern.

• All Saints Greek Orthodox Church, corner of Isabel and Cecilia Sts, Belmore

from Wednesday 18 August – Friday 20 August 2021.

An appointment will be needed. To make a booking at this clinic, please click bit.ly/mycovaxvc16.

• Morris Iemma Indoor Sports Centre, 150 Belmore Rd North, Riverwood from Thursday 19 August – Friday 20 August 2021.

Bookings are required and can be made by clicking bit.ly/mycovaxvc29

The clinics will be open 10am – 4pm.

For information about where the District’s pop-up clinics will be next, please visit www.facebook.com/SydneyLHD.

The 12 LGAs of concern are Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta, Penrith and Strathfield.

“Our staff are working hard to administer COVID-19 jabs to as many people as possible as quickly as possible,” Dr Teresa Anderson, the District’s Chief Executive, said.

More than 9,200 vaccines were administered at the vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park in the 24 hours to 8pm last night (Tuesday August 17.)

The District has also expanded its operations at the NSW Health Vaccination Centre at RPA. It will now be open for bookings from 730am – 915pm, seven days a week.

Data shows the majority of people with COVID-19 in NSW are under 40 and about 25 per cent (a quarter) of those needing intensive care in hospital are under 40.

People who live in an area of concern have a higher chance of coming into contact with the virus.

Two doses of a vaccine:

• reduces the chance of being infected with COVID-19 by 50 percent
• gives about 90 percent protection against hospitalisation and death from COVID-19
• reduces the spread of COVID-19 to others by about 90 per cent

People must not attend vaccinations appointment if they are a close contact or if they have any COVID-19 symptoms. People with COVID-19 symptoms must get tested and self-isolate until they receive a negative test result.