Less than half of Hunter residents are fully vaccinated, meaning a few hundred thousand people will be denied the freedoms that Premier Gladys Berejiklian has promised within a fortnight.
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Yasmin Catley, the Shadow Minister for the Hunter, said it was frustrating to hear the Premier talk about freedoms when many Hunter people would miss out on them due to vaccine delays and the Pfizer shortage.
The Premier has said that from September 13, fully vaccinated people will be able to participate in outdoor gatherings of up to five people who live in the same local government area.
NSW Health data showed that only one suburb - Hamilton - had a fully vaccinated rate above 50 per cent.
"The rest are between 30 and 39 per cent. It's the same for the Central Coast. Only the areas right down south on the Hawkesbury - Brooklyn and Mooney Mooney - have vaccination rates higher than 50 per cent," Ms Catley, the Swansea MP, said.
This highlighted the issue of vaccine inequity, she said.
"The lack of vaccine supply in the Hunter means when extra freedoms are afforded to vaccinated residents, Hunter residents will be left behind."
The NSW government took Pfizer vaccines from the Belmont Vaccination Hub last month to give to HSC students in Sydney's COVID hotspots.
"People are still waiting to get those vaccines. Yes they've been rebooked, but they won't be fully vaccinated in a fortnight's time," Ms Catley said.
Some young people haven't been able to get vaccine appointments at the Belmont hub until December.
"They'll be lucky to be vaccinated by Christmas," she said.
"Where are their freedoms? How is this fair?"
The state and federal governments have urged people to get vaccinated with Pfizer or AstraZeneca, if they are eligible.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommends that "the COVID-19 vaccine by Pfizer is preferred in adults aged under 60 years".
"In people 60 years and over, ATAGI continue to advise that the benefits of vaccination with the AstraZeneca vaccine outweigh the risks associated with vaccination," it said.
"If you are aged 18-59 years of age, you can choose to receive the AstraZeneca vaccine: following an appropriate assessment of suitability by a qualified health professional; and if you provide verbal or written consent."
AstraZeneca is not approved in Australia for those under 18.
