The push to vaccinate as many Moree and district locals as quickly as possible will receive a literal 'shot-in-the-arm' this weekend when the University of New England Medical Centre's mass COVID-19 vaccination hub rolls into town for a 'Super Saturday' free walk-in clinic.
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In response to community demand, the decision was made to take the mass vaccination hub on the road again, following hugely successful clinics in Armidale and Inverell recently.
Last Saturday, the second Armidale Super Saturday event was held at the UNE Medical Centre and another 287 locals received a jab.
It's the only walk-in vaccination centre in the region, and was initially organised in just a matter of days earlier this month after UNE offered the use of its medical centre during a meeting of Armidale's emergency services.
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Between 9am and 3pm this Saturday, August 28, any member of the public over the age of 18 (medical history considered), will be able to walk into the More Services Club, roll up their sleeve and receive their first or second AstraZeneca jab.
Member for Northern Tablelands, Adam Marshall, said this was an amazing opportunity for locals to get their jab easily and quickly.
"Just as the Inverell and Armidale communities have responded overwhelmingly over the last two weeks - almost 1400 people being jabbed at the pop-up clinics - now it's Moree's chance to turnout in their droves and get vaccinated," Mr Marshall said.
"I want to sincerely thank the team at the UNE Medical Centre and Vice Chancellor Brigid Heywood for their support and assisting our community with this wonderful initiative."
The hub will have a full complement of doctors and nurses on hand, putting as many jabs in arms as they possibly can, with vaccine supplies being boosted with a delivery by NSW Health.
They will also provide health advice to those who have questions about the vaccines. Those who receive a jab this Saturday, will be booked in for their second dose, in four weeks' time. Those needing their second vaccination are reminded that four weeks must have passed since their first shot.
If there is more demand than can be catered for on Saturday, the hub will run on additional days so no-one misses out.
"This all about providing people in the Moree district with even more opportunity to get their vaccination now, supporting the efforts of our local GPs and pharmacists," Mr Marshall said.
"Understandably, demand for vaccinations has sky-rocketed with the events of the last few weeks and this is a local solution to meet that demand and make it as easy as it can be to get jabbed."
Figures released on Tuesday showed almost 48 per cent of the Moree Plains Shire population (15 years and over) has already received their first shot, while impressively, more than a quarter are already fully vaccinated.
"The Moree and surrounding communities have done a great job," Mr Marshall said.
COVID marshals will be present on the day to ensure mask wearing, social distancing and provide hand sanitiser.
Mr Marshall said it was vital to get our vaccination rates up.
"Not only to protect our fellow citizens, but also to get our lives back to some form of normality, free of lockdowns and other restriction measures," Mr Marshall said.
"It couldn't be easier! Just pull out your Medicare card, put on your mask, turn up and roll up your sleeve."
Mr Marshall said residents could be assured, anyone receiving a vaccine had a reasonable excuse to leave their house under the lockdown stay-at-home order.
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