Armajun Health Services has been fighting vaccine hesitancy within Aboriginal communities across the Northern Tablelands for months, but with recent eligibility changes, and an increase in Pfizer supply, that may change - now they have the nurses they need to do the job.

Debbie McCowen is the chief executive officer for Armajun Health Service, which offers primary health care services to Armidale, Inverell, Tingha, Ashford, Glen Innes, and Tenterfield Aboriginal communities.

Ms McCowen said there had been a very slow uptake of vaccination across those communities since the health service started with AstraZeneca, but now they had access to Pfizer, things had improved, particularly in the last few weeks.

"Every Aboriginal person over the age of 12 years is eligible for the Pfizer vaccine," Ms McCowen said. "So if people are willing to have the AstraZeneca, they are being given it, and if they are not, they are being given Pfizer."

Armajun Health has been getting Pfizer for some time, but Ms McCowen said they have had an issue with staffing and recently approached Hunter New England Health (HNEH) to give them nurse immunisers to increase the number of clinics and vaccinations they can administer.

"At the moment, we're struggling because our doctors have to do it, and we just can't pump out the numbers that we need," Ms McCowen said. "We have clinics in Inverell, Glen Innes, and Armidale, and if we get additional support from HNEH, we may be able to do additional clinics in Walcha, Uralla, Guyra, and Tenterfield, but at the moment, we physically can't do it. The Commonwealth has said it will double the number of vaccines we have access to so we don't have an issue with supply, but we do have an issue with actually having the capacity to do it."

Hunter New England Health has confirmed it will provide nurses to Armajun and plans are underway to provide vaccinations for the Tenterfield Aboriginal community.

To book your COVID-19 vaccination phone 1800 ARMAJUN or speak with your local doctor.