ALBURY Wodonga Health has no immediate plans to extend opening hours for its vaccination hub, despite daily numbers jumping recently.
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The centre in the former Wodonga Coles supermarket is open to 4pm weekdays, prompting concerns it is hard to access for those at work.
Shepparton's mass immunisation site has been open to 8pm on Tuesdays since early July, but unlike Wodonga it has not operated on Saturdays.
AWH public health unit operational director Jody Bellette noted the weekend access had been popular.
"Since opening on Saturdays, in line with community feedback, we have seen a steady increase in the number of people being vaccinated on this day, as well as many people being vaccinated on weekdays," Ms Bellette said.
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She remarked that in addition to hubs at Wodonga, Wangaratta, Corryong, Beechworth, Mount Beauty, Bright and Myrtleford, vaccines could be given by doctors and pharmacists.
However, Ms Bellette did not rule out a change in opening hours.
"Vaccine availability will increase in coming months and, as this happens, we will continue to review our hub opening hours in line with community feedback, and vaccine and staff availability," she said.
That last point is believed to be crucial with nurse numbers integral to being able to deliver more shots.
"I think there needs to be greater flexibility in the opening hours of the vaccination clinic, particularly now that vaccinations have been opened up to the 18 to 39 year olds," Mr Tilley said
"Last Friday more than 600 people were vaccinated at the High Street hub but in the past two days it's been below 500, which was said to be the capacity,
"I'd love to think that we are at or above capacity every day.
"It's a bit like the chicken and egg, if the clinic was open till 7pm would more working people book in for a vaccination?
"I guess you'll never know unless you try it."
Sarkon vaccination clinic owner Niranjan Sarjapuram said his Lavington premises was on schedule to deliver 750 vaccines by the end of tomorrow for the past week.
Dr Sarjapuram said the clinic opened Monday to Wednesday and Saturdays but he hoped to have bookings for Thursdays and Fridays after receiving permits for doctors to travel from Melbourne to work on-site.
He said that would also allow the clinic, which is providing AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines, to close at 6pm rather than 4pm on some days.
