CONFIRMATION of a COVID case at Coffs Harbour yesterday is expected to drive a surge by Macleay residents for vaccination against the disease.
The Kempsey Respiratory Clinic reported "pretty big demand" for the jab, and will resume administering the AstraZeneca vaccination from next week.
The Belgrave St clinic is providing this service during the mornings, and will take bookings from the general public.
At South West Rocks, the Seascape Medical Centre reported the "majority" of phone calls had been COVID-related since NSW Health announced a person who had tested positive for the disease had visited the Hoey Moey bottleshop at Park Beach on Thursday afternoon.
Seascape office manager Leigh Kelly told the Argus there had been steady demand for vaccination, and the practice had been doing AstraZeneca inoculations two days a week, and Pfizer one day a week.
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While their service is open to the general public, Leigh said bookings were being taken for aged care workers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people over the age of 16, and those in the priority age bracket for the rollout.
"We're booked three to four weeks ahead, with a few little gaps here and there," she said.
The Coffs Harbour case, Leigh said, had shown "we're not immune to it up here".
"We've been so lucky and people need to take it more seriously.
"It's important that people keep checking in, washing their hands and maintain social distancing.
"It's also important that people don't put off their normal health concerns, because some are just staying at home."
NSW Health issued a Public Health Alert last night advising anyone who was at the Hoey Moey bottleshop on Thursday to get tested and isolate.
The Coffs Harbour COVID exposure scare has triggered a testing frenzy with communities across the Mid North Coast concerned about potential spread to other regions.
NSW Heath confirmed the COVID positive person visited the bottleshop on Thursday, between 3.55pm and 4.10pm.
Anyone who attended the venue at the times listed is a close contact and must get tested and isolate for 14 days, regardless of the result, and call 1800 943-553 unless they have already been contacted by NSW Health.
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