That gap between regional NSW and the city has just got larger after the latest government decision over who gets priority for the Pfizer vaccine.
Residents in regional NSW have been receiving text messages to inform them their Pfizer vaccines were being redirected from NSW Health Clinic across the state to assisting vaccinating Sydney's year 12 students.
Premier Gladys Berejiklian announced last Wednesday that around 40,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine would be sent to Sydney as part of a plan to get Year 12 students back to face-to-face classes by August 16.
It was later explained that residents in regional NSW who had received their first dose of Pfizer would receive their second dose as planned, but those who had not yet received their first dose could face having their booking abandoned.
In the text message it informed residents that those who had their booking scrapped would be offered the AstraZeneca vaccination instead.
People across regional NSW have taken to social media in recent days to express their frustration at having their Pfizer booking abandoned after being contacted by text by NSW Health.
Regional Australia advocate and former NSW Farmers' president Mal Peters took to social media to say: "rural NSW people life expectancy six years behind city people....Health services abysmal. Obviously makes sense to withdraw COVID vaccines and send to city. The National party are selling the bush down the river".
Murray MP Helen Dalton, who has been inundated with complaints from people across her electorate after having their vaccine appointment cancelled, urged people to sign the Shooters Fishers Farmers' petition to reverse this decision.
"It is absolutely outrageous that the most remote, disadvantaged and Indigenous district in NSW is having to suspend their bookings so that vaccines can be sent to Year 12 students Sydney," Ms Dalton said.
"Far West NSW have the worst health outcomes in the state. That's because the NSW Government continue to treat them like second class citizens.
"When these Far West communities ran out of drinking water during the drought, the NSW Government refused to truck them bottled water. They had to rely on donations from private citizens."
She questioned which districts the government had sourced the vaccines from.
"We are completely in the dark," she said.
In responses to a question about the redistribution of the vaccine from regional areas, NSW Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant said those in Sydney between school age and under 40s were the ones predominantly transmitting covid-19.
She added at the moment vaccinating populations in south western Sydney and western Sydney including HSC students who had part time jobs was vital.
"I look at them as students, but I also look at them as often have part time jobs and are often out and about doing essential tasks and supporting families and they are often the bridge between young and older generation...that's a critical way disease has ben spread amongst that group," Dr Chant said at the press conference.
"What is important is the regions have been very much spared and that has been a deliberate effort by a large number of people."