IRT Woonona resident Elizabeth Gunter hates needles, but she likes the thought she'll be better protected against COVID-19 after having the Pfizer vaccine.
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The 85-year-old was one of the first Illawarra aged care residents to get the vaccine on Wednesday, as part of the federal government's national rollout.
"I don't like needles but I'm going to have it because we need it ... anyone who doesn't want it is silly," she said, prior to the jab. "I should be safe and so will the other people around me, they'll be safe as well."
Ms Gunter said she'd been "psyching herself up" for the vaccination, which was originally booked in for Monday, February 22.
But there were delays in the schedule nationally, due to an incident at a Brisbane aged care home where a resident was given four times the recommended dose of the vaccine.
That forced the vaccination provider, Health Care Australia (HCA), to slowdown its response, with only a third of the expected 30,000 aged care residents vaccinated in the first week.
"We were having it, then not having it, then having it again ... now it's finally here and I'm glad of it, I want it," Ms Gunter said.
And despite wincing when the needle first pricked her skin, she said it "wasn't as bad as expected".
"It's only the first nip you feel and that's it ... there's no need to be frightened," she said. "It's over before you realise."
Fellow resident Tony Hardy, 66, said he'd had no hesitations getting the vaccine.
"All the residents talk about it, and have their concerns, but I think it's terrific the number of people who have lined up to get it," he said.
"I had no doubts in the world ... I was the first to put my hand up."
Mr Hardy hopes it will mean he'll be able to see more of his three sons, two of whom live interstate.
"I'm looking forward to seeing my boys," he said.
In total, 144 out of 168 residents at the Woonona home received the vaccine on Wednesday, a consent rate of more than 80 per cent.
More residents are scheduled to get the jab at IRT Tarrawanna on Friday.
Residents at other northern suburbs' facilities in Stanwell Park, Thirroul and Corrimal are also expected to get a visit from vaccination teams this week.
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IRT Group CEO Patrick Reid said the vaccine day at IRT Woonona had gone well and was completed smoothly.
"There's been really good team work between IRT and the health professionals administering the vaccine today," he said.
"Apart from a tight timeline, the process appears to be settling into a good rhythm that should see a majority of aged care residents and staff vaccinated quickly.
"I'm hearing that the residents and families are all very happy with the way it's gone.
Mr Reid said staff had distributed a lot of information to residents and staff to help them prepare ahead of the vaccine's arrival.
"The staff at IRT Woonona know the residents well and have been extra attentive throughout the day, introducing them to the nurses and doctors onsite administering the vaccine," he said.
Federal health minister Greg Hunt said as of Tuesday night, more than 13,000 Commonwealth aged care residents had received the vaccine at 158 facilities across the country. An additional 22 facilities had been scheduled for today.
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