Clinics booked out until mid-April as Geraldton residents rush to get COVID jab under Phase 1b

Geraldton residents rolled up their sleeves for the COVID-19 jab this week as the next stage of the vaccination program rolled out on Monday.

Phase 1b will allow elderly adults, healthcare workers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over 55, adults with an underlying medical condition, and critical and high-risk workers such as police and emergency services to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine.

City Health Geraldton nurse Paula Herl was one of 100 people to receive the COVID shot at the Durlacher Street clinic this week, saying she only felt a “sharp scratch” from the needle.

Twenty patients were vaccinated on Monday and the clinic will order 100 doses each week.

Dr Gaurav Kumar said no patients had reported side-effects linked to the vaccine, but people were encouraged to come forward if they had any concerns.

“We haven’t had any major issues apart from one or two headaches, which people were having before the vaccine, so I don’t think it is related,” he said. “There is nothing to be worried about.

“If they have any issues or side effects they can report it to us and then we will speak to the public health officer to get proper advice.” Mr Kumar said vaccination appointments were fully booked until mid-April, with patients from City Health Geraldton and other clinics eager to get the jab.

“We are getting a lot of phone calls from patients from different practices as well, so we are just sorting out how we can do it all,” he said.

Geraldton Respiratory Clinic is also listed as a vaccine provider on the Department of Health’s online vaccine clinic provider.

More local GPs will receive vaccine deliveries as the program progresses.