Hundreds of doses of the AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine arrived in Armidale on Tuesday.
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Since July 30, adults of any age have been able to book an AstraZeneca vaccine at NSW Health clinics and about 450 pharmacies across NSW, but until this week local pharmacies have not had stock to administer the vaccine.
Until this month only over-40s could book a the jab after the state government expressed a preference for younger people to receive AstraZeneca following a GP consultation, in line with national health advice regarding an extremely rare blood clotting condition.
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Mount View Pharmacy received a delivery of 600 doses on Tuesday, and it couldn't come fast enough for the pharmacist in charge, Josh Lee.
Mr Lee had previously told the Express he had been inundated with queries from the community following government announcements of pharmacies administering the vaccine before the stock was distributed.
"It has been a super-duper waste of my time," he said at the time.
On Tuesday, he administered his first vaccination to a local customer and received his second AstraZeneca jab.
"It's fantastic," he said.
"Queries about it have ramped up, and a lot of them are under the age of 60."
The 30-year-old health professional got his first AstraZeneca shot back in May and was due for his second at the end of last month.
"I thought I'd wait and get mine done here at the pharmacy," he said. "The risk with AstraZeneca is minuscule, and I wanted to lead by example."
Mr Lee said anyone hesitant about AstraZeneca because they are waiting for a so called 'better' vaccine should get protection with anything first and then get boosted with the vaccine of their choice later.
"AstraZeneca does what it needs to do," he said.
"In 90 per cent of cases, it protects against severe illness, hospitalisation, and death.
"And that's what we're trying to avoid - high-level healthcare and mortality."
Daniel Flavel is the pharmacist manager at Terry White Chemist in Armidale, and he said although his pharmacy had not been inundated with vaccination enquiries, there had been an increase in the last few days.
"I think the lockdown has made people more aware of the importance of the vaccine and given people a bit of a push along to do something about it," Mr Flavel said.
"There seems to be a greater willingness for those aged under 50 to get what is available, and AstraZeneca is now available everywhere.
"We are also seeing some of the older population that were a bit hesitant before realising that this is important."
All pharmacies in Armidale are now taking AstraZeneca bookings, and any that did not receive a delivery on Tuesday expect to receive the vaccine by the end of the week.
National vaccine advisory group Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has recommended all adults 'strongly consider' receiving AstraZeneca.
On Monday, the Therapeutic Good Administration (TGA) provisionally approved the use of the Moderna mRNA vaccine, with the Morrison Government confirming that the first doses will be distributed to approved community pharmacies.
Mr Lee said he would be '100 per cent getting involved' with the distribution of that vaccine when it was available.
"My understanding is that Moderna can be kept in normal refrigerators like AstraZeneca because it is a bit unfeasible for pharmacies to have minus 70 degree freezers," he said.
"But as far as I understand, it won't be available until October, or maybe September at the earliest, but as soon as we are able, we'll be ordering it.
"The time delay between Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA ) approval and distribution of COVID-19 vaccines is quick but not immediate."
The TGA says Australians over 18 can get the Moderna vaccine; however, the federal government has yet to set any eligibility requirements.
Of the 25 million doses Australia has ordered, 10 million will be for primary vaccination, and 15 million will be for booster shots.
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