THREE of our region's councils have broken the 90 per cent barrier for COVID vaccination double doses.
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Federation (92.3), Indigo (91.1) and Wangaratta (90.3) have attained the milestone, according to the Commonwealth's weekly report published on Monday.
Albury and Wodonga now have 85.7 and 84.4 per cent of their eligible community members fully vaccinated against COVID.
That represents and increase of six per cent in the past week across the Twin Cities which are enduring a coronavirus outbreak.
Alpine, Benalla, Berrigan, Moira and Towong all have around 88 per cent immunisation levels.
Greater Hume is at 85.1 and Snowy Valleys 84.7, but Deniliquin-based Edward River is only at 61.1.
Member for Albury Justin Clancy welcomed the rising numbers, saying it's a "real credit to our community".
However, he also echoed the sentiment of NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant, who visited Albury last Friday and warned of pockets of the community still unprotected.
News of the latest vaccination levels came as the deaths of two residents of Albury's Mercy Place aged care hub were announced alongside a further 52 new cases in the Twin Cities.
"My thoughts are very much with the families, the residents themselves and the staff," Mr Clancy said.
A Mercy Health spokesperson said those who died were "much loved" and their families had been offered support and condolences.
Murrumbidgee Local Health District chief executive Jill Ludford said both were fully vaccinated but had "other complex illnesses as well".
IN OTHER NEWS:
In addition to the five deaths, Mercy Health has had 30 clients and six staff test positive to COVID since October 17.
"Residents are isolated to their rooms, staff are limited to working across only one area of our home, full tier three personal protective equipment is worn by all staff and our home is closed to visitors, except in exceptional circumstances," Mercy's spokesperson said of the situation now in place at the aged care centre.
"Swab testing occurs frequently for residents and staff, as advised by the Public Health Unit."
As well as following "prescribed infection control measures" the staff are "continuing to focus on the physical, social and emotional wellbeing of our residents in these challenging conditions".
