In an exciting milestone that called for cake, balloons and bunches of flowers - the 10,000th COVID-19 vaccine was administered at the Worrigee Medical Centre on Thursday, July 29.
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Vincentia's Tim Foley was thrilled to receive the 10,000th dose administered across the Shoalhaven Family Medical Centres.
He said it was a "big relief" to be fully vaccinated.
"Particularly with the fact there's so many cases happening in Sydney at the moment which is not too far away from us," he said.
Tim said he didn't experience any major side effects with his first dose of the AstraZeneca and reported he was feeling fine after his second dose.
He said it was important for him to get vaccinated wasn't "overly concerned" about potential side effects.
"To get to herd immunity, we need the majority of people vaccinated and then we can hopefully be on our way to something like the normal life we used to have," he said.
"Obviously there was some public scepticisim about the vaccine but I did some reading on it and realised that other medications and procedures, and anything that happens in life really, the chances of something untoward happening are much higher."
Practice Principal Annette Pham was thrilled to celebrate the "massive milestone" for the practice.
"It's a real celebratory day here," she said.
"To think we've achieved 10,000 doses being a medium sized practice is a great achievement."
Gilmore MP Fiona Phillips thanked front line workers and the community.
"What a magnificent milestone. I know all our health workers have been working around the clock to make sure they community has got the vaccine," she said.
"And the community has been doing their part in following the health advice, wearing a mask, social distancing and getting vaccinated."
Mrs Pham said the community uptake of the vaccine was high at the beginning of the rollout, then numbers dipped - but has picked back up again since Sydney's COVID-19 outbreak.
"Initially, the uptake was very very good, then we had a bit of a drop off because of this scare with a blood clot," she said.
"But more recently people are concerned about the escalating situation in Sydney and so we're having plenty of people booking in for AstraZeneca.
"We have the Pfizer vaccine available now and of course, that's very popular. So we're going to open on weekends as well to cater for that need."
Mrs Pham encourages the community to come forward and get vaccinated.
"Don't wait. There's an emerging situation occurring and Sydney can escape out of Sydney very quickly," she said.
"If you have any concerns about being vaccinated, please speak with your GP, don't look at social media and speak with the professionals. The AstraZeneca vaccine is a very safe vaccine."
Pfizer vaccine appointments are available on Saturday, August 7 at the Worrigee Medical Centre and August 14 at the Vincentia Medical Centre.
Appointments can be booked via www.hotdoc.com.au.
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