UNVACCINATED Bathurst residents have been urged to come forward for their jabs as new figures reveal the region has one of the lowest rates of vaccination across the Western NSW Local Health District.
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At least eight cases of COVID-19 have been detected in the region in the past three days, including five to be included in Saturday's figures.
The new cases, and the inclusion of a number of local businesses on NSW Health's venues of concern list, have increased the urgency around the call for unvaccinated residents to come forward this weekend.
"For people aged 16 and over the Bathurst Regional LGA's first-dose vaccination rate is 91.8 per cent, which ranks 18th out of the 22 LGAs in WNSWLHD. The second-dose rate of 82.5 per cent ranks 15th of 22," Western NSW LHD chief executive Scott McLachlan said.
"For people aged 12 to 15, the first-dose vaccination rate is 81.6 per cent which ranks 14th out of 22 and the second-dose rate is 62.9 per cent, which ranks 15th out of 22.
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"We have a seen a number of new cases confirmed in Bathurst in recent days and a number of exposure sites, including a school and child care centre, be identified through contact tracing. They are expected to be published formally soon.
"But as the state continues to open up and tourists return to regional NSW, Bathurst is one area of our district we know a lot of people are going to visit in the coming weeks and months.
"Bathurst has a number of large events coming up like the V8 Supercars, so with thousands of people expected to visit the city we know there will be increased risk of COVID-19 spreading.
"We know how effective vaccination is in reducing the risk of both contracting and transmitting COVID-19, along with stopping people getting very sick and needing hospital care.
"So I urge everyone in the Bathurst community who hasn't done so already to come forward for vaccination."
Mr McLachlan said people could access vaccinations through a WNSWLHD hub or clinic, a GP, pharmacy, the Aboriginal Medical Service or a respiratory clinic.
"This weekend we'll also have one of our mobile vaccination vans at Ben Chifley Dam, just outside Bathurst, to offer an additional opportunity for vaccination," he said.
"So if you're camping or fishing, drop by the dam wall car park on Sunday, October 24 between 10.30am and 1.30pm and get your vaccination."
Mr McLachlan urged everyone to play their individual role in helping stop the spread of COVID-19 to protect themselves, their loved ones and their entire community.
"If you know anyone who is eligible but hasn't yet been vaccinated, please encourage them to go and do so, we all have a responsibility to keep each other safe," he said.
"On top of getting vaccination we can all do a number of things to help fulfil that responsibility, like wearing a mask where required, maintaining physical distancing and particularly indoors, maintaining hand hygiene, get tested regularly and always checking in using the Service NSW app."
Vaccination is available in Bathurst at the WNSWLHD hub on the Charles Sturt University campus, which operates from 9am to 5pm seven days a week.
The clinic accepts walk-ins and booked appointments, with Pfizer being administered on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and AstraZeneca on Tuesday and Thursday.
For more information on COVID-19 vaccination or to book an appointment visit the Commonwealth Government's Vaccine Clinic Finder.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommends a third dose of vaccine for those people whose immune systems are compromised. This includes people on renal dialysis, undergoing cancer treatments, or taking medication to suppress immune response.
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