Almost 40 per cent of the Peninsula’s population is fully vaccinated as new COVID-19 cases continue to be announced on an almost-daily basis and there is a heightened focus on boosting vaccination rates.
According to data published by NSW Health as of August 23, there has been one positive COVID case in the 2256 postcode (since June 16) which was found on August 12 through an unlinked, but local source.
The 2256 postcode includes Blackwall, Horsfield Bay, Koolewong, Little Wobby, Patonga, Pearl Beach, Phegans Bay, Wondabyne, Woy Woy, and Woy Woy Bay.
With a vaccine-eligible population of 13,607, 60-69 per cent of people have had at least one dose of either vaccine, and 30-39 per cent have been fully vaccinated.
There have been three positive COVID cases in the 2257 postcode (since June 16), with an unlinked but local source found on August 10, and two linked and local cases on August 15 and 20.
The 2257 postcode includes Booker Bay, Box Head, Daleys Point, Empire Bay, Ettalong Beach, Hardys Bay, Killcare, Killcare Heights, Pretty Beach, St Huberts Island, Umina Beach, and Wagstaffe.
With a vaccine-eligible population of 25,002, communities in the 2257 postcode have also experienced high levels of vaccination with 60-69 per cent having at least one dose of vaccine, and 30-39 per cent fully vaccinated.
The high vaccine rates were welcome news for Parliamentary Secretary for the Central Coast, Adam Crouch, who said COVID-19 vaccinations are the key to the Central Coast’s freedom.
“We are in a race against time to get as many people vaccinated as quickly as possible, because increasing our vaccination rate gives us the best shot at having restrictions eased,” Crouch said.
“Getting vaccinated will allow us to get back to what we love most: reunions with family and friends, local businesses being reopened, sport matches being resumed and travel being allowed.”
Crouch said 21,000 Central Coast residents are currently being vaccinated each week.
“At this current speed it would take approximately nine more weeks before we reach the milestone of having 70 per cent of our region’s population fully vaccinated,” Crouch said.
“The Central Coast’s current vaccination rate is on par with the rest of NSW, but there are approximately 128,000 residents who haven’t even received one dose of the vaccine, and I know we can do better than this.
“Over 100 local pharmacies, General Practitioners and Health clinics are now administering COVID-19 vaccines and I encourage everyone who hasn’t been vaccinated yet to make a booking.”
Bookings can be made via the Federal Government’s eligibility checker at: https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility.
For those who may struggle to find a booking, Gosford and Wyong Hospitals have launched a weekly mass vaccination clinic, administering AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccines on a first-in first-served basis, every Sunday between 7am and 3:30pm.
Maisy Rae