BY DAKOTA TAIT
Residents across the Hunter and New South Wales are being urged to make sure they're up to date with their COVID-19 vaccinations, as a new wave of infections continues to grow.
NSW Health is calling on the community to practise COVID-safe behaviours like social distancing and mask wearing.
There's concern the Omicron BA.4 and BA.5 subvariants could cause the number of serious cases and deaths to skyrocket.
Health Minister Brad Hazzard says 56 percent of COVID-related deaths this year were people with two or fewer doses.
"We are at the beginning of the third wave of Omicron which is likely to peak in late July or early August. This increase in community transmission brings with it greatly increased risks for those not up to date with their vaccines," he said.
"The best way you can protect yourself from serious illness or worse is to get every vaccination that is available to you."
