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HUNTER residents have taken to social media to express their frustration at having appointments for their COVID-19 vaccines cancelled at the Belmont mass vaccination hub.
The Newcastle Herald understands that about 5500 appointments at the Belmont hub are being cancelled to accommodate the redistribution of vaccines to Year 12 students in Sydney's local government areas "of concern".
There was anger, dismay and confusion as hundreds of people began receiving text messages on Saturday afternoon to say their appointments would be cancelled and a "priority booking code" sent soon to allow them to rebook at a later date.
Hunter New England Health has confirmed overnight that some Pfizer supplies from hubs across the district would be redirected as part of the effort to help stop further spread in Sydney.
"Unfortunately this does mean many bookings for the first dose will need to be rescheduled when more vaccine supplies become available. Those who have had a first Pfizer dose will receive their scheduled second dose," the health district's statement said,
But while people in priority groups 1A and 1B - such as healthcare or aged care workers, and people who had already received their first doses - should not have been affected - people in these priority groups took to social media to express that they too had been receiving these cancellation messages.
Via Facebook, Hunter New England Health said some of these appointments had been "unintentionally rescheduled".
The health service advised these people to email HNELHD-COVIDClinicBookingChange@health.nsw.gov.au or call the NSW Health Vaccination Clinics Booking Support Service on 1800 571 155.
"Those with bookings that need to be rescheduled have been notified today via text or email. They will also be provided with a code in the next few days, to ensure that they can get priority when more Pfizer appointments are released. They will then need to rebook their Pfizer vaccination via the Australian Government eligibility checker when more supplies become available.
"There is also the option of booking to receive AstraZeneca if they would like to be vaccinated sooner.
"Some GPs continue to supply Pfizer vaccinations in regional NSW, and their supplies from the Federal Government are unaffected by this reallocation. AstraZeneca remains available from GPs, NSW Health clinics and a growing number of pharmacies.
"All of our vaccine hubs across the district provide AstraZeneca, except for Belmont where it will become available in the coming weeks.
"People can check to see if they are eligible to receive a vaccine and if eligible, book an appointment at a clinic via the Australian Government eligibility checker.
"We ask that you be kind to our staff on the ground who are working very hard during this pandemic to protect our local communities. We thank everyone for their patience and understanding at this time."
Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper said he understood that about 5500 appointments at the Belmont hub were being cancelled to accommodate the redistribution of vaccines to Sydney.
"I have been contacted by hundreds of angry locals - some are frontline workers, some are aged care workers, some have cancer and are immune compromised," he said via Facebook.
"What an absolute joke.
"Sure, we'll do our bit to help put the fire out in Sydney, but don't tell us existing bookings will be unaffected and then cancel 5500 of them, Minister!"
Mr Piper said he had been in touch with the NSW health minister and the head of Hunter New England Health.
"I expect to hear more in coming days, particularly in relation to vaccinations for 1a and 1b workers and those with existing health conditions," he wrote.
"Could I also ask everyone to lay off abusing Hunter Health staff. Hunter Health is not responsible for [Saturday's] cull or the text messages sent out by the Ministry."
FROM EARLIER:
NSW Health has cancelled appointments at the Belmont vaccination hub as the government redirects vaccines to western Sydney for high school students.
People with bookings in the coming days have started receiving text messages notifying them that their appointment has been cancelled.
"We will initially cancel your current booking but will send you a priority booking code in the coming days to enable a rebook at a later date," one of the messages seen by the Newcastle Herald says.
"Pfizer vaccines are being redirected to assist in vaccinating Year 12 students in south-western and western Sydney to help them return to face to face teaching."
It is not yet known how many bookings have been affected.
READ MORE: NSW records 210 new COVID-19 cases
Lake Macquarie MP Greg Piper said "a number of people" had contacted him on Saturday about the cancellations.
"I'm as much in the dark as everyone else, and as angry as everyone else," he said.
"I'm chasing Hunter Health for some sort of explanation as we'd been told that existing bookings would not be affected by the redirection of vaccines to Sydney."
Hunter New England Health is expected to released a statement shortly.
The Belmont hub opened on July 19.
HNEH Local Health District CEO Michael DiRienzo said it would be able to deliver 20,000 vaccines a week.
The Newcastle Herald reported on Friday that Newcastle GPs were turning away Sydney people trying to book Pfizer vaccines.
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