VIV Allanson says she is checking her emails "by the hour" to find out when the COVID-19 vaccine will be rolled out to aged care staff and residents in the Hunter.
The Maroba chief executive said she was waiting to find out when the vaccination team would visit their facility after the Federal Government announced aged care residents and staff would begin to receive the Pfizer vaccine from next week.
"We are in a holding pattern," Ms Allanson said.
"We have done some initial planning. It's a matter of getting some dates, understanding how quickly they will roll out, knowing if they will try to do everyone on the same day. We don't have that finer detail yet, but I am checking emails by the hour."
Health Minister Greg Hunt said they were expecting "at least" 240 aged care facilities to be included in the vaccine program next week.
It comes as the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) approved the AstraZeneca vaccine for use in Australia.
The TGA has approved the jab for adults aged 18 and over, but says the decision to immunise those over 65 should be made on a case-by-case basis.
Minister Hunt said the AstraZeneca vaccine should be available from early March, "if not earlier".
"The vaccine rollout is on track," he said.
Ms Allanson hoped they would soon receive the vaccine consent forms to allow residents and staff to have "something concrete" in front of them to consider ahead of the rollout.
The vaccine would be optional, not mandatory.
"I think if they made it compulsory at this point, there would be some push back," Ms Allanson said.
"Because we don't know yet if there is going to be any herd immunity from this vaccine, it's too early to say it has to be mandatory.
"My recommendation is that they do have it.
"It is really about minimising the effect of the disease, and avoiding death."
But Ms Allanson said she was confident in the safety of the vaccine in light of the TGA's provisional approval.
"While some people may think it has all been rushed, Australia had the luxury of not rushing it," she said.
"We are feeling very confident about the vaccine.
"But people need to see what the consent involves and any information related to that consent. We have started the conversation here, and now that something has been lodged by the government we feel we can get down to the real end of business and provide some deeper information.
"Aged care is always at the bottom of the pile, and for vulnerable older Australians to be selected first I think is a great news story."
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