With the COVID situation creeping closer to Gloucester, is the community prepared?
Much like its southern neighbour, Dungog - which is currently in lockdown - Gloucester doesn't have a vaccination or testing clinic.
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If the COVID situation intensifies, the community isn't currently set up for large scale testing or vaccination.
The closest options are in Taree, Forster, Maitland or Raymond Terrace.
According to member for Upper Hunter Dave Layzell, plans are in place to manage the situation, should it arise.
"While there are plans for additional testing facilities at Gloucester if the outbreak worsens or if the risk profile changes, there are no current plans for a public COVID testing facility," Mr Layzell said.
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That's not to say members of the community are unable to be vaccinated or tested in Gloucester.
Gloucester Medico started rolling out vaccinations as soon as they were able.
Practice principal, Dr Michele Hogg was the first to get the jab as part of the phase 1B AstraZeneca rollout in March 2021 - a year after the first COVID wave that sent the country into lockdown.
After a slow start, due to delays in getting supplies, the medical centre is now vaccinating between 40 to 80 people per day.
"We are well and truly into the second round of the AstraZeneca vaccine with approximately 100 vaccines given to patients per week," practice manager, Melissa Williams said.
"Simultaneously we are providing the first and second rounds of the Pfizer vaccine.
"We are also in the process of organising additional clinics in an attempt to vaccinate as many of the community as we can in the shortest possible time.
"Many factors influence the frequency of such clinics and these include staffing, vaccine delivery (not availability) and the physical size of our premises to be COVID-safe," she explained.
Neither Gloucester nor Stroud Medico have been impacted by the vaccine shortages or redirection to Sydney.
We are receiving and will continue to receive both the Astra Zeneca and Pfizer vaccines as per our ordering requirements.
- Melissa Williams
"We are receiving and will continue to receive both the Astra Zeneca and Pfizer vaccines as per our ordering requirements," Ms Williams said.
Over at Mirrabooka Place - Gloucester's nursing home - it's unclear the percentage of vaccinated residents and staff with Anglican Care only providing a general statement when asked by the Gloucester Advocate.
Anglican Care has indicated that there has been a "very high participation rate" for the voluntary injection across its facilities.
"Residents living within residential aged care homes were offered the vaccination between March and May 2021," an Anglican care spokesperson said.
In regard to the staff, the need to get vaccinated has only recently been made mandatory.
"We have been working closely with our staff since the National Cabinet decision on June 28 to mandate that all staff working in residential aged care homes receive at least the first dose of a COVID-19 vaccine by September 17."
When it comes to the Gloucester hospital staff and vaccination rates, Hunter New England Local Health District was unable to provide an answer at the time of publication.
Gloucester Medico encourages members of the community who have any vaccine questions to make an appointment with your doctor.
All COVID related appointments and vaccines are government funded with no out of pocket expenses to the patient.
The medical centre will provide COVID tests for those who have symptoms or a NSW Health order after a phone consultation, however, its unable to provide tests to those who've been in hotspots without symptoms.
These tests will need to be sought at a testing clinic, which can be found on the NSW Government website, https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/health-and-wellbeing/clinics
To find out if you're eligible for a vaccine, visit the eligibility checker at www.covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au.
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