GPs are expecting a vaccination crunch is approaching as booster shots become due as the next stage of the nation's childhood COVID-19 vaccination program begins.
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It comes as one practice manager calls for better information sharing from governments with the rapidly evolving response to the Omicron variant.
Children aged five to 11 can get vaccinated from Monday, January 10, and bookings are progressively becoming available.
Sarkon Medical director Niranjan Sarjapuram said his program would take place at their Albury location.
"We have opened the books for the childhood vaccination from January 10 - we are doing possibly 250 in the first week," he said.
"Then depending upon the supply, we might increase. At the moment, the supply for the childhood vaccination is pretty much restricted.
"I think possibly we could get more bookings than what has been allocated, around 400 a week."
Dr Sarjapuram acknowledged there could be some hesitation among parents but urged families to ensure each of their members got protection against severe illness.
"We are doing childhood vaccinations from Young Street, not the vaccination hub, because parents are anxious and we need more time to spend with them," he said.
"We are in the new wave of COVID, so come forward, get your child immunised; we will look after for you with the highest possible care."
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Meanwhile, patients who were fully vaccinated will receive an SMS with a booster due date.
After the booster shot was reduced from six months to five last month, it will now be recommended at four months from January 4.
Dr Sarjapuram said the general practice community needed to be told before such changes were made public, with Sarkon having to turn people away who were seeking a five-month interval.
"We have to say, 'Oh, sorry, you're not eligible' - we send them away and they're not happy," he said.
"Then the government comes out in the media, and says 'come forward for your booster at five months'.
"That starts tension.
"I do totally understand that things will change quickly ... but we're not in the same situation as March 2020."
Appointments for childhood vaccines at the Wodonga Vaccination Hub can be made after January 10.
Albury Wodonga Health (AWH) said parents and guardians can also find appointments through the Australian Government's Clinic Finder.
"There will also be some community-based vaccination clinics, including some in primary schools, over Term 1, 2022," AWH said.
On Thursday and Friday, no walk-ins for Pfizer were available at the vaccination hub due to a shortage.
AWH has also been making changes to its Lakeside testing clinic opening hours due to the high temperatures and closed the line at 10.30am yesterday after opening at 6.30am and reaching capacity.
According to the Victorian Department of Health, there were 21 new cases in Wodonga reported on January 2, bringing the city's active cases to 49.