Blayney's first dose vaccination rate is sitting around the 95 per cent mark so the line up at the Australian Defence Force and Western NSW Local Health District pop-up clinic last Thursday was never going to be as long as those witnessed in Orange and Bathurst when the clinics were first launched.
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The news that those aged between 12 and 15 could now get the Pfizer shot in Blayney was welcomed by Crystal Osborne who was with her 12 year-old son William Groves for his first vaccination.
I really want to see my family who are all in Sydney.
- Rochelle Sutherland
"It's going to have to happen some time in the future so he may as well have it now so he can make things happen," she said.
William wasn't at all worried about getting the needle as he's had other needles before, and it's the lure of what he can do after the course is complete that he's looking forward to.
"During winter I play soccer in Sydney on the weekends so I'm looking forward to getting down there and playing," he said.
Rochelle Sutherland had taken a long time to come around to getting her first vaccination shot, and the reasons are a familiar ones.
"I really want to see my family who are all in Sydney," she said. "And I'm a bit scared of needles."
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Those factors besides, Ms Sutherland believes that misinformation on social media was also partly behind her reluctance to get vaccinated.
"You see all these stories on social media about pregnancy and how rushed the development was and it causes angst and anxiety," she said.
Inside the community centre there were small bottles of hand wash and bottles of water donated by Bernardi's MarketPlace in Blayney, and outside the Blayney SES were guiding residents inside.
"We're expecting quite a few on Saturday morning because the kids are all at school and the parents will probably wait until then," said Blayney SES controller Reg Rendall.
CLINIC DETAILS: Opening hours are 10am-3pm
No bookings are needed for first doses.
- Pfizer vaccine will be available at this clinic for those aged 12 years and over.
- Anyone aged 12-15yrs - MUST BE accompanied by their parent, guardian or nominated carer.
- We encourage students to take up this opportunity ahead of the return to face-to-face learning.
- Those attending will need to bring a form of identification and where able, their Medicare card.
- The queue may be long, so we encourage people to come prepared with food, drink, perhaps a portable chair, a hat & sunscreen.
- Second dose clinics will be scheduled.
People MUST NOT ATTEND the clinic if they:
- Are waiting on a COVID-19 test result (unless this was a surveillance test only and the person is not unwell).
- Are a CONFIRMED close contact of a CONFIRMED positive COVID-19 case.
- Are unwell. Anyone with COVID symptoms should get tested & isolate until they receive a negative test result.
- Have had ANY other vaccination (including flu) in the previous seven days.
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