NSW confirmed 172 new local COVID-19 cases on Tuesday, the highest daily case tally since the start of the pandemic.

NSW Health Ministry confirmed that any adult would soon be able to be vaccinated at its mass hubs.

People aged from 18 to 39 will be able to book in for the AstraZeneca vaccine at the state’s mass vaccination clinic while selected pharmacies will also start to offer the vaccine to adults this week in western and south-west Sydney.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian said both deaths reported on Monday were people who had acquired the virus had not been vaccinated.

“My message to everybody is please come forward and get the vaccine,” she said. “Not only are you protecting yourself, but you’re protecting those closest to you.”

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She urged Sydneysiders to receive either Pfizer or AstraZeneca in the next few weeks, and asked for the under 40s to speak with a GP or pharmacist about receiving the AstraZeneca jab or visiting a state-run facility.

“I know at this stage, absolutely we are not awash with all types of vaccine, but I think the incentive now is for people to come forward and protect themselves,” she said.

“When you have a major outbreak, the risks and the benefits change.”