Hundreds of Pfizer vaccine appointments are already being cancelled in the Hunter New England Health district as the state supports returning Sydney Year 12 students to the classroom.
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Many people booked for first vaccinations have been notified their appointments were cancelled via text message or phone calls.
Nigel Fuller, a Walcha resident, was booked to get his first Pfizer vaccination on Wednesday morning in Armidale.
That plan was dashed when he received a text message on Sunday afternoon to advise the jab had been cancelled, and he would be notified when it was again available.
That led to a phone call to secure an appointment and vaccine at the Walcha GP clinic.
"Good luck to that student, and I hope they do well," he said.
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"In fact, I hope they do so well they become a doctor and repay the debt by working in regional New South Wales."
Tamworth MP Kevin Anderson has lent his support to the decision to redirect the vaccines, arguing the best way to keep the virus away from the bush is to get on top of the Sydney outbreak.
"The biggest threat to regional communities is the growing outbreak of the Delta strain in south-west Sydney," Mr Anderson said.
"To protect our regional communities, we must ensure that the outbreak is stopped in its tracks in Sydney."
He also said, at this point in time, it was important to make sure Sydney students going through their HSCs are looked after.
Regional students are set to do their exams in person, and Mr Anderson believes the city pupils should be afforded the same opportunity, which means they need to be protected from the worst of COVID-19.
Unfortunately, that means a temporary shortage of vaccines at Tamworth hospital.
"Vaccinated students also protect their teachers and families as they undergo an extended lockdown and rising case numbers," he said.
"This means that Pfizer distribution hubs run by NSW Health such as the one at Tamworth hospital will experience short term delays and cancellations."
He said any cancelled appointments will be rescheduled, and in the meantime local GPs are still offering Pfizer and have not experienced any disruption to supply.
Mr Anderson also spruiked the AstraZeneca vaccine for those who are eligible, which he said is in plentiful supply at pharmacists, GPs and NSW Health Clinics.
Meanwhile, people will be contacted directly in the next few days if their Pfizer booking needs to be rescheduled.
"Around 20,000 HSC students are scheduled for vaccination, and vaccination doses are being redistributed based on available supply from across NSW," a NSW Health statement said.
NSW Health said Pfizer supplies to GPs won't be interrupted, as the federal government provides them, and AstraZeneca is available in state clinics and a growing number of pharmacies.
Those who have already had their first Pfizer vaccine and those in the 1a and 1b priority groups will not be affected.
Northern Tablelands MP Adam Marshall said the recent State Government decision to redistribute up to 40,000 Pfizer vaccine doses, initially bound for rural and regional NSW, has understandably caused some people concern.
He said he would continue to monitor Hunter New England Health's adherence to this advice to ensure what has been promised is delivered.
"I realise and fully appreciate this is likely annoying, inconvenient and frustrating for the hundreds of locals who have had their appointments pushed back," he said.
"This is temporary, to fight an emergency down in Sydney and to hopefully stop it before it spreads and crashes through our own front door.
"Make no mistake; we need to do everything we can to combat COVID-19 in Sydney, to crush it and keep it as far away from us as possible."
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