MEMBERS of the Trangie community who worked on the ground to support the local vaccination effort last year have been formally recognised for their efforts at last month's Australia Day ceremony.

The Trangie pop-up vaccination clinics run in partnership between the Western NSW Local Health District (WNSWLHD) and Australian Defence Force (ADF) received the Community Event of the Year Award.

Narromine Shire Council Mayor Craig Davies said while the clinics were known as 'ADF clinics', it was important to recognise a large part of the organisation at ground level was done by local residents.

"We had our own fire brigade there helping with different aspects of it all - they'd also set up marquees outside the town hall where people could sit in the shade after they'd received their vaccinations," Mayor Davies said.

"We also had a number of local health professionals involved - most of it was all set up by the community because they knew the numbers we had and the number of people administering the vaccinations."

According to Mayor Davies, the Trangie community had two vaccination clinics, both of which were quite well attended.

"In total, I believe they administered just under 1000 (vaccines) and given Trangie's population is about that, this means half that population got vaccinated largely due to this local clinic," he said.

"I think the ADF did a fantastic job, but I don't think they would have been as effective without that local input and support - from my perspective, this award recognises both the participants and all the local input for volunteers."

ABOVE: Narromine Shire Council Mayor Craig Davies said the award was celebrating local volunteers who supported in the Trangie vaccination effort rather than the overarching bodies overall. Image: Narromine Shire Council

Fire and Rescue NSW Trangie Station Commander Wade Haines was in attendance at the ceremony on Australia Day and collected the award on behalf of all involved.

A spokesperson from WNSWLHD agreed the community effort had been massive in Trangie, thanking them for their service and congratulating them for the award.

"COVID-19 vaccination clinics delivered in partnership with the ADF had a monumental impact on vaccination coverage across our entire district, including in Trangie and the Narromine Shire Council area," they said.

"We would like to congratulate everyone who played in a role in those clinics’ success, and thank our staff along with the personnel from the ADF, Fire and Rescue NSW and community-based volunteers for all of their efforts.

"We would also like to thank Narromine Shire Council for their recognition of those efforts."

WNSWLHD continues to maintain vaccination has been the best protection against the spread of COVID-19 across the district and prevent people from getting seriously ill if they contract the virus.

Up to 8pm last night (Tuesday 8 February), there were 12 COVID patients hospitalised and two in intensive care, a drop from around 27 in hospital and three in intensive care a week ago on Wednesday 2 February.

There was one death recorded in the LHD up to 4pm yesterday out of a total of 20 across the state, all aged between their 60s and their 90s.

According to NSW Health, eight people had received three doses of a COVID-19 vaccine, nine had received two and three were unvaccinated, however acknowledged old age was a significant risk factor for COVID-19-related deaths.

Up to 8pm last night, there were 172 positive PCR test results and 229 positive Rapid Antigen Test (RAT) results identified in WNSWLHD.

Western Plains LGA's with new cases identified included Bogan (one), Bourke (11), Brewarrina (nine), Cobar (four), Coonamble (nine), Gilgandra (six), Lachlan (seven), Narromine (seven), Walgett (11), Warren (11) and Warrumbungle (seven).