MORE THAN 45,000 council staff across NSW will be allowed to take special leave to get the COVID-19 vaccine.

The special vaccination leave comes under a special award secured by Local Government NSW (LGNSW) and unions last year.

LGNSW President Linda Scott said the new leave allowance will allow council staff to get vaccinated without impacting their regular sick leave.

"Councils are often the dominant employer in their particular area, so their take-up of the vaccine can play a really important role in helping to keep local communities - their friends, families and neighbours - safe and healthy," Ms Scott said.

"Ensuring our workforce is vaccinated, where they are eligible, ensures a stronger health and economic recovery for NSW, and keeps our communities safe from the threat of COVID.

"Providing leave to allow our workforce to be vaccinated, and to be redeployed where possible when in isolation, is the right thing to do."

Ms Scott said the new arrangement would make it easy for a council worker to take the necessary time off to get vaccinated, though it would still ultimately be their choice.

"For most people, getting the vaccine should be possible within 2-3 hours," she said.

"Without seeking to infringe on individual circumstances and personal choice, councils will generally be encouraging all staff to get vaccinated."

According to Ms Scott, 105 NSW councils have already opted into the award. However the necessity of the award has also been called into question by others.

Brewarrina Shire Council General Manager Jeff Sowiak - who has already received both his AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccinations - said he didn't understand the necessity to organise additional leave.

Brewarrina Shire General Manager Jeff Sowiak said he doesn't believe the additional leave on tope of pre-existing sick leave is necessary. Photo - Brewarrina Shire Council website.

"We already have very generous sick leave provisions in our current local government award," Mr Sowiak said.

"We've already had so many different vaccines for a long time - the annual flu shot, measles and many others - and at no stage before has anyone suggested the need to make special leave available before.

"I personally didn't experience any noticeable reaction to either vaccine and for the one in a million that might potentially get ill, they are entitled to take time off using their existing sick leave - that's what it’s for.

"At the end of the day, I doubt our staff would take advantage of this new award because they will be just like the rest of us and take the necessary time off out of their sick leave if they need to."