Border aged and disability care workers receive their vaccination in priority access

Lutheran Aged Care Albury employee Wendy Rice received her AstraZeneca jab in under 20 minutes.

"I arrived, approached them and had my work badge on and they said I was an aged care worker so I got straight through," she said.

"I did try to call the hotline.

"A lady beside me was a disability worker and she went through as well."

Staff at the hub on High Street created lines of people with and without appointments, and brought forward aged care and disability staff.

Ms Rice said she and her colleagues were expecting to have received jabs through the federal government.

"They did the clinic for the residents and we were expecting to be done as well - they were doing Pfizer at that stage," she said.

Lutheran Aged Care managing director Wendy Rocks said all residents who consented to be vaccinated had now been fully vaccinated by a contractor for the federal government, with there being a 90 per cent take-up.

"Now it's getting rates up among the staff ... we were promised by the federal government that they were organising an immunisation program roll-out and that staff were in that 1a category, with clinics to be held on site," she said.

"I think it's incredibly disappointing that that hasn't occurred.

"Staff have been finding their own vaccinations and that can be hard when you're working shift work."

Ms Rocks said staff and resident vaccination coverage "was a bit mixed" across local facilities.

The Victorian government launched a vaccination blitz for staff in its public facilities and in the private sector, and The Border Mail understands public facility bosses are reporting to the government on their coverage this week.

Albury Wodonga Health's public health unit could vaccinate those public aged care workers, being part of the state system, but private aged and disability care programs were being done through a contractor.

Ms Rice said she would have preferred to receive Pfizer, knowing of people who had adverse reactions, but said "it was for the community".

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"It's (COVID) not going away," she said.

Younger people were able to access Pfizer at the hub.

"I feel pretty good ... it's really important," one disability worker said.

"I was checking with the border if being NSW if I could come here.

"I know a few people who are eligible for AstraZeneca who have been getting the vaccine at GPs."

The hub will stay open on Saturday for aged and disability workers.

A spokeswoman said AWH is "pleased to see a strong response from aged care and disability workforce across the region following yesterday's announcement of Victoria's five-day vaccination blitz.

"The AWH COVID-19 Vaccination Hub has continued to see high demand, with 527 doses administered today. This is on par with the past few days, where the daily totals also sit at approximately 500.

"We would like to thank the community for their understanding and patience as we work to protect the aged care and disability sector workers and the vulnerable people they care for.

"Public or private sector aged care or disability workers in either Victoria or NSW, are encouraged to visit the Hub this week to access a priority walk-in appointment. Please bring evidence of your employment in the form of staff identification or a payslip to gain this priority access.

"Whilst the Hub is not accepting walk-in appointments from the general public this week, we are accepting walk-in bookings for future appointments.

"The Hub, located at High St Wodonga (Former Coles Building) will also be open on Saturday between 8:30am and 2:30pm exclusively for aged care and disability workers. Other Healthcare workers, with appropriate identification, are also welcome to utilise this Saturday's session.