It’s been a challenging time for people in South Western Sydney living in COVID hotspots but our region’s residents have shown their grit and turned out in high numbers to get vaccinated.
From 27 June, we’ve gone from 53,934 locals fully vaccinated against COVID-19 to 443,275 locals fully vaccinated. In the same three months, we’ve gone from 162,098 people having received one dose of vaccine to 747,898 people getting their first jab.
These figures show we’re well on our way to having 650,000 residents fully vaccinated and moving towards some freedoms from lockdown.
If you’re not vaccinated, now’s the time to make a booking and roll up your sleeve to get the COVID-19 vaccination.
Don’t miss out on getting out and about to visit friends and family, eat out, travel and enjoy events. But most importantly, protect yourself, the people you love and your community from the severe effects of COVID-19 and hospitalisation.
There are plenty of places nearby to get vaccinated, including:
- your GP
- GP respiratory clinics
- walk-in clinics
- local pharmacies
- South Western Sydney Local Health District vaccination hubs and pop-up clinics
- Aboriginal community-controlled health services
Please visit the Vaccine Eligibility Checker to find the most appropriate vaccination option for you.
A big thanks goes out to those who’ve been vaccinated so far.
Wollondilly local government area (LGA) had the highest percentage of first doses last week compared to other LGAs in South Western Sydney, with vaccinations jumping by 5.8 per cent compared to between 3.3 per cent to 4.1 per cent in our other LGAs. Fairfield, Camden, Liverpool and Bankstown LGAs also did themselves proud with second doses, with the vaccination rates jumping by between 8 per cent to 9 per cent last week.
As of Monday, 20 September, in South Western Sydney:
- 747,898 first doses (81 per cent) and 443,275 (48 per cent) of second doses had been administered
- General practices have administered 342,700 doses and NSW Health has administered 315,300 doses
- Male versus female – each have had 373,000 first doses; females are ahead in second doses with 226,000 women and girls fully vaccinated compared with 217,000 men and boys fully vaccinated
- General practice administered 51,190 doses last week (the biggest week so far)
- By age group –
- More than 90 per cent of people 30 to 39 and people aged 60 and over have had their first COVID-19 vaccination
- More than 70 per cent of people aged 60 and over are fully vaccinated
Let’s do this South Western Sydney!
Why should I have a COVID vaccination?
- Vaccination is the best way to protect yourself and your community from COVID-19.
- COVID-19 can spread quickly and widely. It has resulted in more than 1,000 deaths in Australia.
- When enough people in the community are vaccinated, it slows down the spread of disease.
- This reduces the need for preventive measures, such as border closures and travel restrictions.
- Achieving herd immunity is our long-term goal. This requires a large amount of the population to be vaccinated.
Who should have a COVID vaccination?
- Vaccination against COVID-19 is recommended for all individuals 12 years of age and older.
Is it safe to have a COVID vaccination?
All vaccines are thoroughly tested for safety before they are approved for use in Australia. This includes careful analysis of clinical trial data, ingredients, chemistry, manufacturing and other factors.
Side effects:
- You may experience minor side effects following vaccination. Most side effects last no more than a couple of days and you will recover without any problems.
- Some people will experience more significant flu-like symptoms from the vaccine compared to other common vaccinations and may need time away from normal activities.
- For the Pfizer vaccine, these symptoms are more common after the second dose. For the AstraZeneca vaccine, these symptoms are more common after the first dose.
Link between AstraZeneca and TTS:
- There has been a link between the AstraZeneca vaccine and a syndrome called thrombosis in combination with thrombocytopenia (TTS). This is an extremely rare blood clotting syndrome.
- There is a very low chance of this side effect, which may occur in around one to two people in every 100,000 after being vaccinated.
- The medical advice remains that the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine is safe and recommended for people over 60.