Business was brisk at the Japanese encephalitis (JE) vaccination clinic at Warren's Multi Purpose Service on Thursday 17 November, with staff reporting a steady flow of attendees throughout the day.

Organised by NSW Health the free walk-in clinic was held in the facility's Community Room from 10am to 4pm as part of a rollout of clinics across 41 Local Government Areas considered high risk for the mosquito borne virus.

All eleven shires in the Western Plains App licence area (Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Cobar, Coonamble, Gilgandra, Lachlan, Narromine, Walgett, Warren and Warrumbungle) are now on the updated list released by NSW Health last week.

Warren local Charli Squire said she came across a notice for the clinic on social media and realised she was high-risk for JE.

"I spend a lot of time outdoors and there are so many mozzies about at the moment, I jumped at the chance to get a vaccination for free," Ms Squire said.

"It was pretty straightforward too. All we had to do was fill out a form beforehand and wait for 15 minutes afterwards in case of a reaction."

Ruth Reid (The Marra), Tammara Wells (Hermidale), and Sarah Williams (Nyngan) attended the vaccination clinic in Nyngan on Wednesday.

A similar free clinic was held at Nyngan on Wednesday and further walk-in clinics will be held at Coonabarabran, Baradine, Coonamble and Gilgandra MPSs this coming week.

It's important to vaccinate now against JE virus if you are eligible because it takes up to four weeks following vaccination to develop a protective immune response.

Attendees are required to bring their Medicare card and identification.

Attendees are required to wait fifteen minutes after their vaccination.

The JE vaccine is also available through local General Practitioners for people aged two months or older who live or routinely work in the LGAs of high concern who:

• Spend significant time outdoors (four hours per day), for unavoidable work, recreation, education, or other essential activities

OR

• Are living in temporary or flood damaged accommodation (e.g. camps, tents, dwellings exposed to the external environment) that place them at increased risk of exposure to mosquitoes

OR

• Are engaged in the prolonged outdoor recovery efforts (clean up) of stagnant waters following floods.

Nevertire residents Roger Maxey, Jim and Heather Druce outside the Warren clinic.

Although there may be few domestic or commercial piggeries in these areas, the widespread and highly mobile populations of feral pigs can lead to an increased risk.

NSW Health has placed orders for additional vaccines that are expected to arrive in the first part of 2023.

Vaccinations can also be booked with many GP clinics across the region.

For further information go to: https://www.health.nsw.gov.au/JEvaccine