Chatting to the ACM while they waited for the gates to open at 9am, it was the same story for many: unable to book an appointment in town, or having a spot ready only to have their spot cancelled as Pfizer doses ran out or were redirected.

John Gaukroger was there almost as the sun arose, waiting in his blue hoodie and matching mask, the cold steel bench no deterrent to his patient watch.

He was set to get his Pfizer around three weeks ago, but in the end was turned away from his doctor because "they didn't have any left".

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"It's a good thing to get the vaccination, and to get it while we can - it's certainly very hard to get it at the doctors," he explained.

"It is to be expected I suppose, but I was here at 7am this morning because I thought I may as well get the AstraZenneca while we can."

Allan Darby was "a bit hesitant" to get vaccinated at all, currently battling blood cancer. But after a frank conversation with his doctor, was convinced it was the right thing to do.

"The doctor says I can have it, and at the moment not many doctors even have spaces available to get it done - they're full, their books are full," he said.

"So I'm here now - the only way out is to have it."

In the younger generation, both Sally Noble and Jack Bennett were told they were ineligible for Pfizer when they checked online.

Since then they've had something of a run around: they went to the clinic which popped up in Texas, but were turned away from there too.

"I've tried to get the Pfizer," Miss Noble lamented.

"We booked into the Texas clinic because we were told we could go, but we got there and were told it was just for essential workers who needed to cross the border."

Mr Bennett said despite the Inverell clinic not administering the Pfizer, it made sense to make the most of the opportunity while it was here.

"This is a really great opportunity, it's going ahead and we can now get it done here," he said.

Ken Bradbery was resigned to the fact that having the vaccination was for him.

Waiting with Robyn Hagan, he jokingly said "well the specialist told me I should, so here I am".

They were both also booked in for Pfizer, however said that their doses weren't available for them at the surgery when it came to the crunch.

"We were waiting for the Pfizer, but they took it back," Ms Hagan noted.

"They had it at one surgery but they told us they weren't taking any more patients."

Being immune-compromised, Mr Hagan said the opportunity like this should have been made "months ago".

"The government waited until we are at crisis point now to do something," he exclaimed.

"It should have been done months ago - it should have been done last year. With the polio vaccine, they got them out to the schools, had people lining up in the town halls to get the jab."

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