Hundreds of thousands of younger Sydneysiders previously unable to access a Covid-19 vaccine will be eligible for emergency jabs from today.
A deal struck between the Commonwealth and Poland saw one million doses of the Pfizer vaccination purchased from the European nation arrive in Australia on Sunday evening.
Half of those shots have been urgently deployed to Sydney’s west, where a devastating crisis shows no signs of slowing.
Young people who work in at-risk jobs will be prioritised, Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced.
“These one million doses of hope will give [hope to] people right across the country, particularly in NSW,” Mr Morrison said.
“They are fighting this Delta strain in the most significant battle we have had in this country during the course of the Covid-19 pandemic up until now.”
RELATED: Former anti-vaxxer reveals why she got a Covid-19 vaccine
The priority allocation is based on advice from the chief medical officer, the PM said, and will give everyone aged 20 to 39 in those hard-hit local government areas the chance to be protected.
NSW recorded 415 new cases of Covid-19 on Sunday, following a record day on Saturday with 465 new cases.
High-risk groups can jump the queue
Of the one million Pfizer doses bought from Poland, half have been allocated to LGAs in Sydney where the outbreak is raging out of control.
Population groups identified by modelling developed for the Government by the Doherty Institute – specifically, young people in at-risk workforces residing in hard-hit localities – will be prioritised.
That means immediate access for a large number of people who previously weren’t eligible for a jab or struggled to get one due to low vaccine supply.
“As supply allows, extending vaccinations for adults under 40 years offers the greatest potential to reduce transmission now that a high proportion of vulnerable Australians are vaccinated,” the Doherty Institute advice read.
People aged 20 to 39 are “the peak spreaders”, explained Professor Jodie McVernon, director of epidemiology.
“They will bring covid home to their children, they will take it home to their own parents, and this is the group now where we’re proposing the reorientation of the strategy,” she said.
RELATED: Sydney teen dies after battling Covid-19 and meningitis
These Sydneysiders can now get a jab
From today, people aged 16 and older who work in identified industries and live in Sydney LGAs deemed areas of concern will be eligible to book a priority appointment.
It’s a narrow window though – just seven days due to the finite number of new doses.
Those LGAs are Blacktown, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool and Parramatta.
A number of suburbs in the city of Penrith are also eligible. They are Caddens, Claremont Meadows, Colyton, Erskine Park, Kemps Creek, Kingswood, Mount Vernon, North St Marys, Orchard Hills, Oxley Park, St Clair and St Marys.
RELATED: ‘Forgotten’ Australians outraged over vaccine announcement
The first category of authorised workers eligible are those in health care, aged care and disability support, including frontline service delivery staff; ancillary and support staff like cleaners, cooks and security personnel; and chemist or pharmacy employees.
Construction sector workers have also been prioritised, meaning anyone on a building site in Greater Sydney is now eligible.
Freight and transport staff are also eligible, including seaport and airport workers; postal, courier and delivery staff, including those in grocery fulfilment; and passenger or freight road transport workers.
Meat workers can also receive urgent jabs, including abattoir workers, smallgoods manufacturers, seafood processors and retail workers at butchers or fishmongers.
Also eligible are food workers in production and manufacturing or supermarket staff.
Finally, frontline education workers can also get a priority vaccine – meaning, those providing schooling or early education and care services.
Here’s how to book an appointment
Those Sydneysiders who fit the criteria for an urgent appointment can book in at one of several priority locations via the NSW Government website.
Both jabs must be scheduled and must be administered at the same location.
For all the latest lifestyle News Click Here
