PEOPLE over 50 can book their COVID-19 vaccination as the Bendigo Health hub opens for the next phase of the rollout.
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It's expected to administer about 350 vaccination doses per day, more than three times previous rates.
Health authorities have urged people to book in for shots, saying it would be too late to get vaccinated if there was an COVID-19 outbreak.
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Bendigo Health chair Bob Cameron said anyone over 50 should be vaccinated, as COVID-19 was much more dangerous the older you got.
Mr Cameron said Bendigo Health was aware of hesitancy among some community members after instances of a rare clotting side effect. But he said it would be too late to get vaccinated in the event of an outbreak.
Mr Cameron said he had confidence in the vaccine, with his own appointment booked for Wednesday, as he was over 50.
"If you're over 50, you're in a cohort of danger," he said.
"You don't want to be the one getting it, you don't want to be the one having to take up a hospital bed.
"Those people that have been vaccinated are going to be protected in the event of an outbreak."
Mr Cameron said vaccine supply issues had eased since Australia was manufacturing its own Astrazeneca shots.
He said Bendigo Health now knew it had enough supply to administer 350 doses per day.
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Mr Cameron said the hub was aiming to vaccinate as many over 50s as possible.
"If we've got this supply, we don't want to see it sitting in the fridge, we want to see it in people's arms," he said.
"What we know is when the virus comes it moves extremely rapidly, and you have to be ready in advance.
"Have the vaccine now, so in the event of an outbreak you will be safe."
Mr Cameron reminded people to wait two weeks between receiving their flu vaccine and their COVID-19 vaccine.
He said those receiving their dose at the hub needed to register online, then bring their Medicare card and drivers' licence to their appointment.
Mr Cameron said anyone not able to use the website registration system could also book over the phone, on 1800 675 398.
He said appointments would take about half an hour.
People aged over 50 in the Loddon Mallee community can book vaccine appointments on the Bendigo Health website.
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