The region stretched its lead over other areas in Victoria, ahead of Geelong on 71.3 per cent and Bendigo on 69.7 per cent. In the past fortnight an astonishing one in 10 south-west residents have received their first dose of the vaccine.

Within the region, Warrnambool is leading most other parts of the south-west, with 73.5 per cent of residents receiving at least one dose, followed closely by Moyne (71.9) and Corangamite (71.5).

The more remote areas are generally lagging behind, with Colac-Otway and Glenelg sitting on 67.4 per cent and 68.2 per cent, but Southern Grampians is charging ahead at 77.5 per cent.

Vaccine uptake in the region has trended upward in recent weeks, driven by extra allocations of the Pfizer vaccine as well as rising demand for AstraZeneca, which is now available without a booking.

South West Healthcare said 1646 Pfizer first doses were administered between August 25 and 31, along with 328 second doses. There were also 375 AstraZeneca first doses and 627 second doses given over the same period. The Warrnambool vaccination hub was regularly receiving 500-700 Pfizer first doses each week and had enough AstraZeneca for anybody who wanted it.

The burgeoning vaccine stocks have led some people to travel from Melbourne in search of a dose, with local MP Roma Britnell saying as many as 30 Melburnians were turned away from the Warrnambool vaccination hub in recent days.

Ms Britnell said while this wasn't illegal, it didn't pass the pub test.

"I don't think that's reasonable - there are vaccination centres right across the metro area - there is no reason for people to be travelling 300 kilometres to get the vaccine," Ms Britnell said.

"Having people travelling from the metro areas not only risks spreading the virus further around the state, it takes away an appointment from a south-west resident."

While premier Daniel Andrews warned the imminent easing of regional restrictions would be minor, the south-west is well on the way to the national double dose opening target of 80 per cent, with Warrnambool poised to break 50 per cent of the adult population fully vaccinated in the next couple of days.

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