Vaccination statistics show wealthier SA areas have higher rate, while lower economic areas are lagging

One blue-ribbon suburb is closing in on the magic vaccination number, but some areas of SA haven’t even hit the 50 per cent mark – so just when do we open back up?

The state government remains committed to ending statewide lockdowns and lockouts by Christmas but remains coy about whether an 80 per cent statewide fully vaccinated rate or 80 per cent across all local government areas will be the trigger.

It comes as health officials release a new list of the second round of healthcare workers required to get vaccinated by November 8.

With some areas at barely half the rate of the leaders, experts are warning of dire consequences for vulnerable pockets of the community if borders open at a 80 per cent statewide figure.

A government spokesman said there is a “strong plan to transition out of this pandemic and vaccination is key to this” without answering inquires by The Advertiser if all local government areas will need to reach the 80 per cent target to ease border restrictions.

“We remain fully committed to the expert plan presented to national cabinet by the Doherty Institute which will see the end of statewide lockdowns and statewide lockouts before Christmas,” the spokesman said.

“We are expanding vaccination sites and continue to explore measures and strategies to ensure it is as easy as possible for South Australians to roll-up. These measures are aimed at addressing issues in certain LGAs with lower vaccination rates.”

Burnside is on track to become the first local government area to hit the 80 per cent fully vaccinated mark, followed by other affluent areas such as Unley, Mitcham, Walkerville, Holdfast Bay and Adelaide Hills which are all above 70 per cent.

Burnside this week topped the 90.6 per cent mark for one jab and 75.8 per cent for two shots, ahead of Mitcham on 87.4 per cent for one shot and 71.9 per cent for two.

Victor Harbour with its large retirement community is on 86.4 per cent for first jabs and 71.1 per cent for double vaccinations, while Mt Gambier is on 91.6 per cent for first shots but 60.4 per cent for fully vaccinated.

However, in a stark health-wealth divide, other areas are languishing at rates far below the leaders — leaving unvaccinated residents at risk depending on how borders open.

Playford has just 43.2 per cent of eligible resident fully vaccinated, Adelaide Plains 45.1 per cent, Karoonda East Murray 48.1 per cent, Light 48.9 per cent, Murray Bridge 49.7 per cent and Salisbury 50.1 per cent.

The Grant local government area, around Mt Gambier, is now listed as ‘not available” — it previously had the state’s lowest numbers but doubts were raised on the data and many residents may list their address as Mt Gambier.

It was one of 17 areas listed as “not available” — many were remote but also included Port Lincoln, Kangaroo Island, Tumby Bay and Ceduna.

Professor of Biostatistics at UniSA Adrian Esterman warned of the dangers of allowing Covid in while some areas are lagging.

He called for the borders to areas with the virus to remain shut until all local government areas were at 80 per cent fully vaccinated “or at least getting towards it,” noting factors behind low rates can include limited education, poor English and distrust of government.

“This is a major issue across the country, pockets of low vaccination including Aboriginal communities, and if the virus gets into them it will not be good,” he said.

“People in these communities usually have poorer health so will be at even worse risk if they get infected.

“The onus is on the government to increase vaccination rates in these areas to even things out.”

People enter the Wayville Covid vaccination hub in Adelaide. Picture: NCA NewsWire /Brenton Edwards

Practice owner of the Northern Vaccination Centre at Pooraka, Prashiba Thavarajadeva, called on ethnic leaders to urge vaccinations.

“There is a lot of misinformation is some communities who are not using trusted sources — we really need leaders in ethnic groups to be sending a powerful message to get vaccinated,” he said.

“Parts of northern Adelaide have high rates of chronic diseases and if the virus gets in while vaccination rates are still low it is not a great cocktail for wellbeing.”

The state government is using pop-up clinics and a fleet of 10 “vax vans” to encourage vaccination in pockets that are lagging.