Annastacia Palaszczuk ‘pretty sure’ Queensland has hit 60 per cent vaccine milestone

Queensland’s “super Pfizer weekend” has likely taken the state over the 60 per cent first dose milestone and, with more people getting vaccinated in the state than in Covid-ravaged NSW over the two days, it could make for a very merry Christmas.

Queenslanders have eclipsed vaccination efforts in Covid-ravaged NSW in a Super Pfizer Weekend that’s pushed the state closer towards national targets to save lives and secure freedoms.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said it was the efforts of those people prepared to roll up their sleeves for the greater good that would decide if Queenslanders would be able to see their interstate relatives and friends this Christmas.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk, during a tour on Super Pfizer Weekend at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre’s vaccine hub. (Pic: Liam Kidston)

A record 33,004 people turned up across 38 community hubs on Saturday – 1070 more than in NSW.

The Premier late Sunday revealed at least 56,412 doses were administered across the weekend, with the final count continuing into the night.

Ms Palaszczuk said she was “pretty sure” the heroic efforts would see the state tick over to 60 per cent of people with their first shot, with more than 41 per cent fully vaccinated.

She said the state’s vaccination rate would be a key factor in whether borders could reopen and Queenslanders could see their interstate relatives for the holidays.

“We all hope that we can see our relatives and friends at Christmas time,” she said.

“That’s going to depend on people getting vaccinated.”

She said there was “a clear and present danger” there could be another Delta case “at any time”.

“So now is the time, this window of opportunity, to get vaccinated,” she said.

“And can I thank Queenslanders for coming out to get vaccinated.”

The Premier apologised to those who had joined long lines for a jab, including at places where supplies ran out due to the massive demand.

Authorities will now assess the success of the two-day effort in which widespread walk-ins were taken before deciding how to further supercharge the state’s rollout.

It also comes as more than 1 million shots of Moderna are distributed around the country following batch testing by the Therapeutic Goods Administration, with Queensland pharmacies expected to be able to offer appointments from the middle of this week.

Chief health officer Dr Jeannette Young has already committed to offering walk-in appointments each weekend.

Her deputy, Dr Lynne McKinlay, said Queensland Health would look at the weekend’s turnout to decide whether walk-ins will be offered every day and whether some centres might be opened 24 hours a day.

“We’ll be looking at everything to get the best outcome for Queenslanders,” she said.

Dr McKinlay defended the state’s vaccination rates, which have been the lowest in the country.

“In the areas where they’ve had outbreaks and they’ve had to really push hard as that is one of the most important measures, understandably they’ve had a very quick take up and we haven’t had the same outbreaks here fortunately so no, I’m not concerned,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk said other states had received more supply than Queensland because of their outbreaks.

Queensland recorded no new Covid cases on Sunday.

Walk-ins at Covid Vaccination Clinic Doomben Racecourse on Sunday (Pic: Richard Walker)

Meanwhile, the Premier reminded Queenslanders they could also go to the GPs and chemists to be vaccinated too as she spurred people on get the jab.

She said a lot of work was happening at national cabinet to decide the path to reopening.

“At the moment everyone is talking about 80 per cent, or even a bit higher than 80 per cent, so come on Queensland, we’re nearly at 60 per cent,” she said.

“But we’ve got to get our vaccination rates up because when the virus comes in here, if our vaccination rates are higher, we are going to see less impact on our hospitals and less impact on people getting long-term issues related to Covid.”

The Premier said the national plan had adopted the 80 per cent figure for when borders should be opened but the Doherty plan was doing more research on that.

“I think everyone’s comfortable with 80 per cent but the Doherty research might come back, and it might say higher,” she said.

She added that Dr Young had indicated she would like to see 90 per cent of Queenslanders vaccinated.