A breakdown of COVID-19 vaccinations by postcode, released by NSW Health, reveals the small pocket of Newcastle West - along with Merewether and The Junction, Salamander Bay, and Eleebana and Warners Bay - has some of the highest vaccination rates in the Hunter.

It comes as Federal government data also reveals the Newcastle and Lake Macquarie area hit a milestone this week, with 50 per cent of people aged 15 and above receiving their first jab, and 24.8 per cent fully immunised.

While the Hunter Valley region - excluding Newcastle - still had some of the lowest vaccination rates in the state, over the past fortnight, rates for first doses increased from 37.5 per cent to 45.6 per cent, and the percentage of people fully vaccinated rose from 14.1 to 21.3.

According to the NSW postcode data, Callaghan currently has the lowest vaccination rates in the region, with less than 10 per cent of its 1510 eligible residents receiving a single dose. But given the suburb is home to the University of Newcastle, it may be presumed many of the suburb's residents only recently became eligible.

In Newcastle West - 2302 - more than 90 per cent of the 589 people eligible for a COVID vaccine had received a first dose, with 50-to-59 per cent now "fully vaccinated".

But in neighbouring Bar Beach, Cooks Hill and Newcastle, 50-59 per cent have received a first dose, and 20-29 per cent have received two doses. In the Merewether postcode of 2291 - where 11,475 people are eligible for the vaccine - more than 10,000 vaccines had been administered up until August 16. Between 60 and 69 per cent of people had received their first dose, and 30 to 39 per cent had both.

In the 2289 postcode - Adamstown and Garden Suburb - between 50 and 59 per cent of almost 15,500 eligible residents have received their first dose. And of more than 21,400 people in East Maitland, 40-49 per cent have had their first jab, and 20-29 per cent have had both.

More than 82,000 Hunter residents were tested for COVID-19 in the past week. From August 7 to 14, more than 27,600 people were tested in Lake Macquarie, followed by 27,300 people in Newcastle.

In Maitland, more than 13,400 people were tested, with another 6400 in Port Stephens, and 3500 people in Cessnock.

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