A mass COVID vaccination hub will be established in Wollongong's Crown Street Mall, NSW Premier Gladys Berejikilian confirmed today.
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The hub, which will be housed in the old David Jones department store building, is in the process of being fitted out and is expected to open in mid August.
It's one of two new mass vaccination centres to be established by the NSW Government, the other will be located in South West Sydney at an old Coles building in Macquarie Fields. Together they will deliver tens of thousands of additional jabs each week.
The two new hubs are in addition to the well-established mass vaccination hub at Sydney Olympic Park, while a second mass vaccination centre in the Hunter Region is also due to open within weeks.
Ms Berejiklian said in addition, another Sydney vaccination hub site had been secured in Pitt Street, close to light and heavy rail lines, to serve city workers and residents through extended opening hours.
"In NSW we have a sense of urgency about getting jabs in arms, because once the vast majority of our population is vaccinated, we can start a conversation about reaching a 'COVID-normal' state," Ms Berejiklian said.
Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District Chief Executive Margot Mains said the district was delighted to join the state's mass vaccination roll-out.
She said the Wollongong facility, which will open in mid-August, would be administering the Pfizer vaccine.
"This is a great opportunity for more locals to come out and get vaccinated, in a central and convenient location, and do your bit to help protect everyone against COVID-19,'' Ms Mains said.
"The centre will have the capacity to administer up to 15,000 vaccines per week. Approximately 2500 per day (six days a week).
"As well as Illawarra and Shoalhaven locals, the centre will welcome residents from neighbouring local health districts to receive their vaccination including those from southern parts of Sydney, the Southern Highlands and the South Coast."
Ms Mains said the centre was expected to employ around 160 staff each day, which included nurses, pharmacists, medical, administrative support and concierge staff.
"I also want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of our staff, local contractors, businesses and others in the CBD who will help us to deliver this vaccination centre over the next month," she said.
"It is no small task to transform a disused department store building into a vaccination centre capable of delivering 2500 vaccines every day."
Illawarra Labor MPs, Paul Scully and Ryan Park, have welcomed the announcement of a mass vaccination hub in the region - something they've been calling for.
"This is something we needed in Wollongong because otherwise people may not be able to access vaccinations," Wollongong MP Mr Scully said.
"We understand that the building, having been closed for five years plus, needs work to ensure it's ready for the public, and suitable for a health facility.
"The plan is to have the first jabs in arms by August and our health service is moving very quickly to get it set up and ready to go."
Mr Scully said other sites had been investigated - such as the old Bunnings site at Warrawong - but had been either unavailable or unsuitable.
He said he understood the current, smaller, vaccination hub at Wollongong Hospital would be incorporated into the mass vaccination hub when it opened.
"It's a central location for our region, well serviced by public transport," he said. "The carpark adjacent to the building is still open, and I would suggest that NSW Health consider taking out a number of these parking spaces too for people with mobility issues."
Meantime Labor's candidate for Wollongong Lord Mayor, Tania Brown, has called on Wollongong City Council to dedicate parking on Church Street for the vaccination hub.
"The only way out of this pandemic is through vaccinating our nation, so I welcome the vaccination hub but I note that if this is to be set up in the CBD of Wollongong it needs to come with dedicated parking," she said.
"I have today written to the general manager of Wollongong City Council suggesting that the Church Street car park, which is in walking distance, be dedicated and free for residents attending the hub."
Keira MP Ryan Park said the new hub couldn't come fast enough.
"We need to dramatically increase our vaccination levels throughout the community and I am confident that this facility will help to do this," he said.
"People shouldn't delay getting their vaccination. Make an appointment, ensure that you attend and get your jab because it is a race, it's a race to save lives and livelihoods."
Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the rapid development of sites was a credit to the hard work of local staff in health districts such as the Illawarra Shoalhaven Local Health District.
"NSW is increasing access to vaccination in ever expanding numbers of local communities, with hundreds of NSW Health staff expected to be on site at the opened clinics," he said.
The new sites add to NSW Health's 100 vaccination clinics and outreach locations across the state and they complement the GP network which will continue to deliver the majority of COVID-19 vaccines across the state.
The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 2,231,996, with 851,400 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm last night and 1,380,596 administered by the GP network and other providers to 11.59pm on Tuesday.
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