As cases increase of COVID-19 increase in Orange, residents are being urged to get vaccinated for COVID-19 at one of the many pharmacies and doctors surgeries in the city that are offering the free service.
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North Orange Discount Drug Store is one of the more than a dozen venues that are delivering AstraZeneca vaccines.
Pharmacist in charge Tim Denham said the demand for the vaccine has led to people having to book in advance.
He said at this stage AstraZeneca is the only vaccine the pharmacy has been invited to use and it booked out with 120 people getting the jab last week.
People can get also get a free AstraZeneca vaccine at the Orange vaccination clinic at the Orange Hospital campus, which can be accessed through the park entrance before the main hospital on Mondays and Wednesdays 9am to 3.30pm.
Other venues in Orange include: Colour City Medical Practice, Hogans Pharmacy, Apple City Family Medicine, Dr David Howe, Peter Smith Chemmart, Blooms the Chemist Orange, Orange Compounding Pharmacy, Orange Square Medical Centre, Priceline Pharmacy Orange City Centre, McCarthy's Pharmacy, Orange Medical Centre Pharmacy, Orange Family Medical Centre, The Wellness House and Orange Respiratory Clinic.
Mayor Reg Kidd said according to the current data, 50 to 59 per cent of the residents in the 2800 postcode have had the first dose of a vaccine and 30 to 39 per cent are fully vaccinated.
"We have made some great progress but we can take this to another level," Cr Kidd said.
Cr Kidd said the mapping shows that Orange is vaccinating at a higher rate than many other parts of the state.
"We now have cases in Orange, which should be a very strong motivation for us to drive those rates higher. Premier Gladys Berejiklian has regularly stated that 80 per cent is a key target for a safer and more open state. Let's get there," he said.
"I also urge everyone to follow the guidelines, get tested and stay home."
To help with the roll-out, the Australian Defence Force and the Western NSW Local Health District are hosting pop-up vaccine clinics in Orange from September 6 to 10. Cr Kidd said the clinic coming to Orange is good news but don't wait for it.
From this week, Australians aged 12 and over who are on the National Disability Insurance Scheme are also eligible to receive a Pfizer vaccine and LiveBetter CEO Natalie Forsyth-Stock said it was a great move.
Although she said LiveBetter in Orange does not support a lot of children, the Delta strain has been shown to spread among children so the more people who are protected the better.
She said many people who are on the NDIS also experience other co-morbidities that could place them at higher risk if they did contract COVID.
"We've got pretty high vaccination rates with our clients," she said. The organisation has vaccinated 938 clients and family members in Orange.
People are advised to use the eligibility tracker on the NSW Health Website for a list of available venues and times. Those without internet access should contact their pharmacy or medical provider.
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