Phase 1b of the COVID-19 vaccine rollout is officially underway in Griffith.
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About 40 people received their first dose of the Astra Zeneca vaccine today as the Griffith Vaccination Hub began administering the vaccine for the first time.
Those eligible to receive the vaccine at this stage are healthcare workers, residents over 70, Indigenous Australians over 55, and patients with serious medical conditions.
Among the first in line was Sarah Jay, a medical receptionist at Your Health Griffith.
"It didn't hurt at all," Mrs Jay laughed. "I'm definitely excited and proud to be working in health care and to have received the vaccine."
"It's valuable for our community and it's a good service for our community ... it's really quite easy to get it as well."
Practice nurse Jacqui Mossman was in charge of administering the vaccine to residents today.
She said the rollout was going even better than expected.
It's gone really smoothly, it's running like a dream.
- Jacqui Mossman, Griffith Vaccination Hub
"It's gone really smoothly, it's running like a dream," Mrs Mossman said. "We've had no reactions and no problems at all."
"People have been coming in and they're excited to get their vaccine. I think it's the start of a new stage in this covid period, people are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel."
Mrs Mossman said it was "so easy" to get the vaccine and she urged all eligible residents to do so.
"You come in, you do the registration side of things at the front where we check relevant things like your reactions to previous vaccines. Then we give you the vaccine, it takes two seconds. Then you wait 15 to 30 minutes, depending on if you've had problems previously and that's it really."
Currently a maximum of 40 people can receive the vaccine from the Griffith Vaccination Hub each day, though this number is likely to be doubled next week.
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Those who received their first jabs today will be returning in the coming weeks for a second dosage.
On Thursday, Kookora Surgery will also begin administering the vaccine to local residents and more general practices are expected to get involved in the coming months.
Local category 1a workers, including ambulance staff and other essential workers, will receive their first shots at Griffith Base Hospital on Wednesday.
The Griffith Vaccination Hub is operating out of Your Health Griffith.
To check your eligibility for a vaccine visit https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/eligibility. If you are eligible for the vaccine you will be redirected to book.
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