Thousands of people across Sydney have been flocking to vaccination providers to get the COVID jab, however, uptake in south west and western Sydney is much lower than areas across the inner city.
Earlier this week the NSW Government released vaccine statistics based on postcodes and it showed that hotspot regions were lagging behind others when it came to getting the vaccine.
Suburbs in Campbelltown, Liverpool, St George and Fairfield displayed much lower vaccination rates than those in areas like Rose Bay, Sutherland, Leichardt and Balmain.
Federal MP and former paediatrician Dr Mike Freelander said the clear disparity in vaccination rates between the Sydney regions was of great concern.
"So many of our local residents have been denied timely access to the vaccine, and that of course contributes to this inequality," he said.
"However, much can also be said for the government's poor handling of the vaccine roll out, and how mixed messaging has led to vaccine hesitancy."
The Macarthur MP said the government need to improve accessibility to the vaccine and engagement with culturally diverse communities as a matter of priority.
"I have been lobbying the NSW Government to establish additional vaccination hubs in the Macarthur electorate to service our rapidly growing community," Dr Freelander said.
"Additionally, the government ought to commit to establishing in-house vaccination services, to ensure that our most vulnerable and immobile residents have the ability to get vaccinated if they choose to do so.
"Particularly across our Western Sydney and South Western Sydney Local Health Districts, the government need to more proactively engage with our Culturally And Linguistically Diverse (CALD) communities, to ensure that our critical public health messages are clearly articulated to all."
Sydney GP Dr Ken McCroary told the Advertiser last week that only 17 per cent of south-west Sydney residents had been full vaccinated.
"That is 25 per cent lower than other areas in Sydney," the Macarthur General Practice doctor said.
"We are still having significant issues getting the right people to have the vaccine.
"It has also been difficult to get messaging to culturally and linguistically diverse people - we had an issue this week that some of the information on the NSW Health website for culturally and linguistically diverse people was out of date."
In suburbs like Minto, Peakhurst, Liverpool, Mount Annan, Lugarno, Ambarvale, Kingsgrove, Appin, Campbelltown, Hurstville, Casula, Douglas Park, Cabramatta and surrounds only 20-29 per cent of the population is fully vaccinated.
Only 10-19 per cent of the residents living in the Fairfield 2165 postcode region have had their first and second vaccines.
However, in many regions across the inner city including East Ryde, Pymble, Turramurra, Rose Bay and Mosman around 40-49 per cent of residents are fully vaccinated.
More than 30 per cent of Sutherland Shire's residents are also fully vaccinated.
The 2570 postcode region, which includes Camden, Oakdale and Spring Farm, bucks the south west Sydney trend with 30-39 per cent of residents having received both jabs.
Dr Freelander said families across hotspot regions were 'doing it extremely tough at the moment'.
"It is very disturbing that the government does not seem to understand the work practices and lifestyles of people in south west Sydney," he said.
"We have fewer people who can work from home, more people who work with their hands or in service industries who are often required to travel long distances from where they live.
"The Government's messaging has been very divisive, about the North and East versus and West and South West."
NSW Labor Leader Chris Minns said there was no doubt that vaccines were the key to New South Wales getting out of lockdown and avoiding future ones.
"Misinformation is certainly a key barrier to high vaccine uptake numbers so I do remind everyone, your doctor is the only place you should be seeking your medical advice from," he said.
"When you get the vaccine you are not only keeping yourself safe, you are protecting your family and the broader community too as well as playing a vital role in getting New South Wales out of lockdown.
"But right now the priority needs to be to incentivise vaccine take up and to support business and workplaces in rolling out the vaccine.
"It's critical that we're making it as easy as possible for people right across the state - from frontline workers to construction workers, to teachers, to get vaccinated."
Dr Freelander encouraged people eligible for the vaccine to get the jab.
"Unfortunately we are likely to continue to see rolling lockdowns, so long as our vaccination rates remain low and COVID continues to put lives at risk," he said.
"So many in our community have been denied timely access to the vaccines, and lives and livelihoods are on the line as a result of the government's failings. Please, do your part and book in vaccination if you are yet to do so.
"I'd also like to congratulate our health care staff for their hard work and diligence in keeping us all safe. This includes GPs, pharmacists, nurses, cleaners, doctors, paramedics, pathology staff and support staff."
