Belmont Bunnings to become second NSW mass vaccination hub for COVID-19 in July

The site, which is expected to open by mid-July, will have the capacity to administer up to 20,000 COVID-19 vaccines a week, NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

It would mimic the state's first mass vaccination hub in Sydney, offering both the Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines by appointment.

"Our mass vaccination centre at Sydney Olympic Park has been a huge success, vaccinating more than 5000 people a day already," Ms Berejiklian said.

"We are planning to replicate that model in the Hunter region, so we can quickly and safely vaccinate as many people as possible across NSW."

Work has already begun to transform the former Bunnings Warehouse site at 393 Pacific Highway, Belmont.

About 150 people will work to convert the site throughout the next six weeks.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the centre would also employ up to 100 nurses, 25 pharmacists or pharmacy technicians, and about 200 other support staff.

"The Newcastle community and indeed everyone across the Hunter New England Local Health District has been outstanding in presenting for COVID testing to help keep their loved ones safe," Mr Hazzard said.

"More than half a million people to date have fronted for testing, so I am confident the community will register online to get vaccinated at this new centre, or with their GP, and encourage others to do the same."

Hunter New England Health chief Michael DiRienzo said he was "delighted" to host the state's second mass vaccination centre.

"I want to take this opportunity to acknowledge the tremendous efforts of our staff, and all the contractors, who are helping us to deliver this vaccination centre," he said. "It is no small task to transform an empty warehouse into a vaccination centre capable of inoculating thousands every day. It's a great service you're doing for our community."

In the week ending Sunday, June 6, almost 81,000 vaccines had been administered in NSW. The state health department said this was its highest number of COVID-19 vaccines given within a week, with more than 33,000 of those administered at the Sydney Olympic Park vaccination centre.

The total number of vaccines administered in NSW is now 1,498,063, with 499,725 doses administered by NSW Health to 8pm Sunday, and 998,338 administered by the GP network and other providers. NSW recorded no new locally-acquired cases of COVID-19 in the 24 hours to 8pm Monday. Five overseas-acquired cases were recorded in the same period.

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