A popup vaccination clinic at Maitland Showground on Thursday has been a huge success, despite highlighting the serious demand for the shot across the Hunter.
Around 300 people were given the AstraZeneca jab in just three hours, including walk-ins.
The queue was parked out an hour and half before opening, and included groups all the way from under 40s to over 90s.
Dr Craig Richards from the Lorn Surgery says they’re hoping to get another clinic up and running in two weeks’ time.
“I think there’s a very high demand for vaccination, but we’re still just currently limited by the lack of Pfizer, which is most appropriate for people under 60,” Dr Richards said.
It’s hoped the region could establish a larger and more permanent clinic with the arrival of Pfizer supplies in Australia.
“I think we definitely do need an accessible mass vaccination option in the Hunter Valley,” Dr Richards said.
“Belmont is a bit of a hike for people, but at the moment there’s probably a fairly complementary sort of role going on there, Belmont providing Pfizer for the region, and Maitland providing AstraZeneca.”