NSW Has Opened Up the Pfizer Jab to Under 40s in Sydney's 12 LGAs of Concern

Overview

Sydneysiders, if you're under the age of 40 and you live in one of the city's 12 Local Government Areas that are currently under tighter lockdown conditions, the New South Wales Government has just revealed some great news. As announced by NSW Health today, Wednesday August 18, the state's COVID-19 vaccination rollout is now prioritising doses of the Pfizer jab for folks aged between 16–39 in these LGAs of concern — effective from Thursday, August 19.

Accordingly, under 40s in the Bayside, Blacktown, Burwood, Campbelltown, Canterbury-Bankstown, Cumberland, Fairfield, Georges River, Liverpool, Parramatta and Strathfield LGAs — and in 12 suburbs in the Penrith — are able to get booking, with an extra 530,000 doses of Pfizer becoming available to this specific group over the next two-and-a-half weeks.

"We know there are several hundred thousand people in these LGAs who are unvaccinated in this age group, and this is a great opportunity for them to come forward and get their jab," said NSW Health Deputy Secretary Susan Pearce.

Although the AstraZeneca vaccine has been available to Australians of any age since late June, this is the first time that the Pfizer jab will be available to residents aged 16–39 in these 12 parts of Sydney — without needing to fall into a high-risk or other high-priority category, that is. So, if you live in these areas and fit the right age range, it's now time to roll up your sleeves. The Pfizer vaccination will be available to under 40s at hubs such as the Bankstown, Bayside, Liverpool, Prairiewood, Penrith and South Western Sydney vaccination clinics, and venues at Sydney Olympic Park, Qudos Bank Arena, and Sonic Healthcare in Hurstville and the CBD.

Bookings opened at 9am on Wednesday, August 18, for appointments from Thursday, August 19 onwards.

Before now, NSW residents under 40 who'd prefer the Pfizer vaccine have needed to fall into a specific group to access it, as the nation's vaccination rollout hasn't yet opened up the Pfizer jab to everyone under 40. That means that adults aged up to 39 haven't been eligible to get the Pfizer vaccination unless you're of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander descent; work in quarantine, border or healthcare roles; work or live in an aged care or disability facility; work in a critical and high-risk job such as defence, fire, police, emergency services and meat processing; have an underlying medical condition or significant disability; are pregnant; or participate in the NDIS, or care for someone who does.

If you're aged between 16–39, live in Sydney but don't reside in these 12 Sydney LGAs of concern, you do still need to fall into a priority category to access the Pfizer jab until NSW opens it up to under 40s statewide.

For further information about NSW's vaccine rollout, head to the NSW Health website — and for more information about opening up the Pfizer vaccine to under 40s in Sydney's 12 LGAs of concern, head to NSW Health's announcement.