It’d be fair to say that some locals are experiencing difficulties in trying to access a COVID-19 vaccine on the Coast … but just where can you get the jab?
To get as many Coasties vaccinated as possible, Central Coast Local Health District will hold rapid AstraZeneca vaccination clinics at Gosford and Wyong hospitals this weekend.
The clinics, which will be open on Saturday, August 14 to Sunday, August 15 from 7am to 3:30pm, will be located at the Gosford Hospital Vaccination Clinic and the Wyong Hospital Vaccination Clinic.
Everyone aged 18 years or older is welcome, with students, teachers, construction and retail workers particularly encouraged to attend.
CCLHD said that no appointment was necessary, but stated that residents must bring a form of ID and their Medicare Card.
To save time on arrival, locals are encouraged to pre-register via NSW Health’s COVID online check-in portal before attending the clinic.
Anyone awaiting COVID test results, experiencing COVID symptoms or who has visited a COVID hotspot must not attend the vaccination clinics.
For those wishing to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine, here are a list of local facilities to book for the jab:
• Perfect Medical Care on Blackwall Rd, Woy Woy (Open Monday to Friday, 9am – 6pm)
• Woy Woy General Practice on Railway St, Woy Woy (Open Monday to Friday, 8am – 8pm, Saturday 8am – noon)
• Kuoch Chemist Woy Woy on Blackwall Rd, Woy Woy (Open Monday to Friday, 8am – 8pm, Saturday 8:30am – 5pm, and Sunday 9am – 5pm)
• Clarke’s Amcal Pharmacy on Blackwall Rd, Woy Woy (Open Monday to Friday, 8:15am – 6pm, Saturday 8:30am – 4:30pm, and Sunday 9am- 2pm)
• Priceline Pharmacy on George St, Woy Woy (Open Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 5:30pm, Saturday 8:45am – 3pm, and Sunday 9:30am – 3pm)
• Bluesky Medical on Vidler Ave, Woy Woy (Open Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm, Saturdays and Sundays, 9am – 3pm)
• Ettalong Medical Centre on Picnic Pde, Ettalong (Open Monday to Friday, 8:30am – 6:30pm, and Saturdays 8:30am – noon)
• Family Medicine Umina Beach on Berith St, Umina (Open Monday to Thursday, 8am – 5:30pm, and Friday 8am – 4pm)
• H Wai Shing PTY LTD on Oscar St, Woy Woy (Open Monday, Tuesdays and Thursdays (8am – 5:30pm)
• Peninsula Medical Centre on Bullion St, Umina Beach (Open Monday to Friday, 7am – 6pm, and Saturday 7am – noon)
• Umina Surgery on West St, Umina (Open Monday to Friday, 8am – 5:30pm, and Saturday 8am – 11am)
• Blooms the Chemist on West St, Umina (Open seven days a week, 8am – 6pm)
The list comes on the back of an announcement this week that 36 community pharmacies would start administering the COVID-19 vaccines across the Coast.
Federal Member for Robertson, Lucy Wicks, said the addition of community pharmacies would play a vital role in the vaccine rollout across our region.
“Community pharmacies are an essential part of the Australian health care system and pharmacists are highly accessible health care professionals who provide patients with access to vital medicines, health care services and support,” Wicks said.
“Pharmacies who have not yet expressed interest will also be offered the opportunity to participate, as well as any GPs that are not yet participating in the rollout.
“In addition, community pharmacies will also participate in the rollout of the Moderna vaccine from September.”
But for those wishing to recieve the Pfizer vaccine, it can prove much more difficult.
According to the online Vaccine Clinic Finder, Umina’s Peninsula Medical Centre on Bullion St appears to be the only venue on the Peninsula supplying the Pfizer jab.
Otherwise locals will have to travel to East Gosford Medical Centre on Brougham St, Calligem Health on Mann Street, Gosford Hospital COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic, or the Central Coast (Erina) Respiratory Clinic on Terrigal Dr to receive Pfizer.
However, as of August 11, the online Vaccine Clinic Finder suggests that there are no Pfizer bookings available for the next 30 days anywhere on the Coast.
Public Health Director at CCLHD, Dr Kathryn Taylor, said it was an extremely complex and logistical task to deliver the vaccines.
“The Erina Hub is run through the Primary Care sector, which is Commonwealth, and the hospitals are run through the local health districts which is State – so [there are] lots of players involved,” Taylor said.
“The best place for people who are trying to get a vaccine is the Vaccine Eligibility Checker which is the one-stop shop which does synthesise all the options and as more appointments become available at the Wyong and Gosford hospital hubs, which I anticipate will be the coming days to weeks, those will [become] available on that eligibility checker.
“People aged over 16 are eligible for Pfizer but it is a question of where they can access it.
“People aged 18 or over are eligible for AstraZeneca and that can be accessed at GPs, pharmacies, [with] clinics expanded at Gosford and Wyong hospitals.
“But in terms of the Pfizer, that’s where we are really feeling the pinch on supplies.”
The news comes after hundreds of Central Coast residents were left frustrated and angry last week when their Pfizer vaccination appointments, many of which had been made months in advance, were rediverted to HSC students in the areas of greatest concern in Sydney.
The State Government has not yet confirmed when those reallocated Pfizer doses will make it to the Central Coast, nor when those residents will receive confirmation of their rescheduled appointments.
“We will get Pfizer back up [to the Central Coast] in high numbers very quickly, as soon as the Federal Government makes it available [to NSW],” Minister for Health and Medical Research, Brad Hazzard said.
“As soon as we get our allocation [of Pfizer] from the Federal Government, we will be making sure we put it back into the Central Coast, 100 per cent as quickly as possible.”
Maisy Rae
Just explain why I can’t get the Pfizer jab at 72 years old I am more than happy to line up for it but I will not get the astrazenica because of the blood clots and don’t tell me it’s safe because I don’t trust any of you
I too want the Pfizer..at 68 and still working face to face with clients in homeless services why should I have to settle for a lower protection value with the Astra crap..It is the aged that seem to cop the BS.Like Linda above I too don’t trust our leaders..look at how many different positions they have taken and the lies they tell when it suits them.
I’m 64, 65 in December with underlying health issues where can I get an appt for Phizer on the Central Coast please? I have my GP’s reference and my eligibility form. I have been trying for over 4weeks now and still can’t find a place for an appt. I’m told I have a compromised immunity and can’t get help.
Myself 64 my Husband 67, My Aunt 85 all had the Astra jab. all fine no drama for any of us. This is not to say you should get it, it’s just to show that the number of bad side effects are minimal….
My son works in meat processing which is in a priority group on the Eligibility Checker but has been told that it will probably be next year to receive Pfizer – he is 35 with hereditary blood clot disease on the Central Coast
kept trying to get a Pfizer jab over the web checker, over the phones etc for a month now, still hanging on the phone right now for the last 52 minutes so far.
this government left friendly Afghans for dead, now they leaving their own citizen for dead through their incompetency managing a simple vaccination cue.