The eligible workers received their vaccine at Katherine Hospital under Phase 1A of the national rollout, which started in February.

NT residents who are being vaccinated under Phase 1A are:

The Federal Government has handled the rollout in aged and disability care facilities, with several aged care homes in Katherine receiving their share of jabs since March 3.

After losing her best friend, uncle and father to COVID-19, the arrival of a long awaited vaccine was a bittersweet moment for nurse Rachel Jones.

"I didn't think I was going to be emotional," she said.

"I started to think I'm the lucky one... and that's when I started to think this is really significant for me and my family."

The vaccine rolled out in Katherine this week was the Pfizer jab, but an NT Health spokesman said the AstraZeneca variant will likely be used in Katherine for Phase 1B of the rollout in the coming weeks.

The vaccine is not mandatory, and eligible workers were asked a list of questions about their health and consent before receiving the jab.

The NT Health spokesman told the Katherine Times the checklist of health screening questions were vital to minimising the risk of adverse side effects from the vaccine, which is already very low.

He said the dose people received this week will need to be followed up by a second dose in three weeks to ensure full protection against the coronavirus.

Mrs Jones urged Katherine residents to get vaccinated as soon as they are eligible.

"I'm going to tell them if they get offered it, just take it," she said.

"If not for themselves, for the people they come in to contact with every day."

Hospital administration worker Julie Jarman also received the vaccine with "no reservations", she said it was an easy process but an important step for the community.

"It was fine, didn't feel it at all... they've set it up really well... it seems to be quite smooth running," she said.

"It feels good that I've actually had the vaccination and I feel safer."

For Ms Jarman, getting vaccinated means the return of interstate travel without the risk of COVID-19.

"I plan to go down south at the end of April, so I feel safe and more secure (now)."

Pharmacy manager at Katherine Hospital Mel Goss said reservations and fear about the swift development of the vaccines should not stop people from receiving them.

"I think a lot of the quickness is more the approval paperwork side than the clinical trials," Ms Goss said.

"I'm not too worried about the vaccine."

Ms Goss urged people to put their hand up to get vaccinated when they can, and said normal life will return sooner if more people are immune to COVID-19.

"I'd tell them to prioritise it, have some trust in the systems," she said.

"I can't see that there's any way forward to resuming normal lifestyle without it (the vaccine).

"I'm very grateful that we have it."

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