Authorities are pushing to double the daily vaccination rate on the Sunshine Coast amid warnings that the region is lagging behind the rest of the state and the nation.
From Friday, October 8, a large vaccine hub will be reopened at Caloundra Indoor Stadium where 2000 doses can be administered each day.
If that 2,000 daily target is met that would be double the current rate across all the existing SCUH and Nambour clinics which will close while the hub is operational.
The hub will remain open seven days a week for two months and will only administer Pfizer which is now available to anyone over the age of 12.
The stadium proved popular when it was opened during the lockdown in June when more than 14,000 people rolled up their sleeves for a jab.
Queensland has among the lowest vaccination rates in Australia and the premier on Wednesday raised concern about slower uptake in some regions including the Sunshine Coast.
The Coast is about 57 per cent double dosed but needs to reach the crucial milestone of at least 80 per cent of the eligible population when it’s anticipated borders may reopen.
Help keep independent and fair Sunshine Coast news coming by subscribing to our free daily news feed. All it requires is your name and email. See SUBSCRIBE at the top of this article
Sunshine Coast Hospital and Health Service (SCHHS) CEO Dr Peter Gillies said it would even be ideal to reach up to 90 per cent coverage on the Coast and he encouraged people not to delay.
“This is the way we get out of this pandemic and get back to life as normal. These vaccines are really good, really safe and we really encourage you to all turn up,” said Dr Gillies.
“You can either do that by booking an appointment which would be preferred or we are going to allow walk-ins as well.”
Dr Gillies said Queensland could face a Delta outbreak at any moment and it was important not to be complacent.
“As you can see from interstate, they’re having lots of challenges and at any point we could have an outbreak that we’re not able to contain…so we really want to get that vaccination rate up as fast as we can.”
Queensland reported no new locally-acquired cases on Wednesday after 12,829 tests but Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said there remained an ever-present risk of Delta breaking into the state.
Ms Palaszczuk said vaccination coverage in parts of Brisbane was already above 70 per cent, but she was particularly concerned about lower uptake in Ipswich, Beaudesert, Logan, the Sunshine Coast and central Queensland.
Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young said the virus could not be kept out forever.
“We will see Delta variant come in and won’t be able to be controlled, the only control will be the number of people who are vaccinated,” she said.
Sunshine Coast Mayor Mark Jamieson said the new hub at Caloundra could potentially vaccinate 120,000 residents over the next two months, but people needed to show up.
“If we want to get back to normal and be together around the Christmas table it is a race and Queensland Health is here to ensure that we finish that race as quickly as possible,” said Cr Jamieson.
“I urge people to don’t let the opportunity pass, don’t say ‘I don’t need it’ or ‘We don’t need it’.
“The quicker we’re vaccinated the safer it will be for everybody. We can get back to enjoying ourselves more, engaging with our families, seeing people from interstate and overseas.
“I urge people not to fret and worry about it but come and have a vaccination and let’s see the Sunshine Coast move up the order in terms of the vaccine rates around the state and around the country.”
Meanwhile Ms Palaszczuk said the borders wouldn’t necessarily open when the 80 per cent target was met.
She said the target was 80 per cent, but the ACT had reached 93 per cent already so 80 per cent shouldn’t be the final goal.
“To protect Queenslanders I would like to see as many Queenslanders as possible vaccinated, which would reduce our risks if and when we get those outbreaks,” she added.
-with AAP
