According to the federal government's latest vaccination data, over 85 per cent of Orange residents have now received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine.
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The vaccine roadmap which was released Monday, September 13, and recorded dosages up until Sunday, September 12, based this percentage on Orange's 33, 170 residents aged 15 and over.
The overall 85.3 per cent figure was a jump of 12.5 percent on vaccination numbers recorded the week before - the biggest increase in the Central West.
The data also showed that nearly half (46.4 per cent) of people aged 15 in Orange and over had received their second dose.
The federal government's vaccine data further stated that as of September 12; 80.4 per cent of Cabonne residents aged 15 and over had received their first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine (42.5 per cent fully vaccinated); 80.1 per cent of Blayney had had their first dose (41.3 per cent double-dosed); 77.9 per cent of Bathurst had received their first dose (39.8 fully vaccinated), and 84.4 per cent of Dubbo residents aged 15 and over had had their first jab of a COVID-19 vaccine (40 per cent double-dosed).
NSW Health's vaccination numbers were similar to those collated by the federal government, with 85.7 per cent of those aged 16 and over having had one COVID-19 vaccine and 47.3 per cent of people being fully vaccinated.
Western NSW Local Health District (WNLHD) is calling the region's vaccination rates the most-improved in the state across the last four weeks.
Chief Executive Scott McLachlan said vaccination rates across the District have skyrocketed in both Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal communities.
"I'm really proud of our communities. They've heard the message that vaccination is the best way to tackle COVID-19 and they've stepped up," Mr McLachlan said.
"We've seen the first-dose rate of COVID-19 vaccinations go from 17 per cent to 56 per cent for Aboriginal people and from 41 per cent to 82 per cent for non-Aboriginal people.
"The second-dose rate for Aboriginal people has gone from around seven per cent to almost 22 per cent, and from 20 per cent to more than 41 per cent for non-Aboriginal people.
"While we've still got a long way to go to reach that 80 per cent goal, the number of people with first doses on board puts us in a really good position.
"I can't stress this enough though - we can't afford to think we've done enough."
Orange is among seven local government areas in the District to have first dose rates at over 80 percent. The other six include Weddin, Dubbo, Coonamble, Parkes, Narromine and Mid-Western
Orange's big jump in vaccination rates was likely due to the pop-up clinic which was operating out of the DPI building from September 6 to September 12.
While both AstraZeneca and Pfizer were available at the vaccine hub, the demand for the latter was significant.
The Central Western Daily understands that 95 percent of the 4200 vaccines administered in the one week were Pfizer.
The pop-up clinic returns to the DPI building on September 27 to administer just second doses. For Pfizer, the minimum time between doses is three weeks, for AstraZeneca it is four weeks.
Vaccination is also available through GPs, Aboriginal Medical Services, Respiratory Clinics and participating pharmacies across the District - the supply of both Pfizer and AstraZeneca through these channels is strong, WNLHD has said.
Community members with questions or concerns about COVID-19, including testing and vaccination, should contact the National Coronavirus Helpline on 1800 020 080.
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