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'Second class citizens': Outrage at new Pfizer plan for Sydney

The controversial decision to redirect Pfizer doses from regional NSW to vaccinate year 12 students in Sydney has been met with intense backlash.

As authorities in NSW grapple to contain the growing Sydney outbreak, Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced on Wednesday that Pfizer doses will be offered to HSC students across eight Sydney Local Government Areas of concern.

But due to limited vaccine supply, the doses will be pulled from rural and regional areas to do this.

A close-up of a doctor's hands as they prepares to administer the COVID-19 vaccine. Source: Getty Images
Some Sydney students in their last year of high school will be given priority for the Pfizer vaccine. Source: Getty Images

The Federal Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain lashed out over the move, claiming she’s contacted every day by residents struggling to get the jab.

“In Queanbeyan, people have told me that they are having to wait up to 3 months to get a vaccination. While in some of our remote towns, people face journeys of over an hour to reach a vaccine clinic,” she posted to Facebook.

Labor MP for the seat of Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain delivers her first speech in the House of Representatives at Parliament House in Canberra, Monday, August 31, 2020. Source: AAP
The Federal Member for Eden-Monaro Kristy McBain is furious over the deciaion to pull Pfizer vaccines from regional NSW.

She slammed the vaccine rollout to the regions as “a debacle” and demanded the doses be restored.

“Regional communities are sick of being treated as second class citizens,” she said.

“The Federal Government’s failures have once again left regional NSW exposed and at the back of the queue.”

A screenshot of a Facebook post by Labor MP Kristy McBain, who is angry over the NSW Government’s decision to redirect Pfiser vaccines from rural NSW to Sydney. Source: Facebook
Kristy McBain has lashed out on social media, claiming residents in her electorate are already waiting up to three months to get vaccinated. Source: Facebook

Her Facebook page has since been flooded with comments, with many outraged over Sydney students being prioritised over those in regional and rural areas.

“I am furious that they think it is OK to make it even harder for our regional communities to get vaccinated,” commented one person.

Another said: “Totally disgusting to take the small amount of Pfizer that regional areas of NSW have been waiting for.”

“This vaccine roll out has been a joke from the get go and made even worse now with this pathetic decision,” another user posted.

“As a Sydneysider, I can only apologise for the incompetence of Gladys,” one person wrote.

Students receiving Pfizer is already a sensitive topic after teenagers at a prestigious Sydney Catholic school were given doses of the vaccine despite it not being officially available to those under 40.

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