Covid Qld: Vaccination rate confirmed as the reason for so far avoiding a widespread lockdown

The past nine days have delivered a roller coaster of “will they, won’t they” lockdown fears amid multiple outbreaks and a mystery infection, but there’s one clear-cut reason we’re not all stuck in our homes, and it’s got nothing to do with the NRL grand final.

Multiple outbreaks and a mystery infection have not resulted in the need for lockdowns because half of all Queenslanders are now fully vaccinated.

Chief health officer Jeannette Young said more than 2 million Queenslanders are now double vaccinated, which was limiting the spread of the virus as it reduces the risk of passing it on to 25 per cent.

But despite the positive figures, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk on Tuesday gave her strongest indication the state’s borders still would not open at 80 per cent.

South East Queensland, Townsville and Palm Island have to date escaped a widespread Covid-19 outbreak despite at least four positive cases spending several days in the community.

There are 67.5 per cent of Queenslanders with a first dose and 48.6 per cent who are fully vaccinated.

Sunday’s NRL Grand Final was widely touted as a reason the state didn’t go into lockdown last week. (Photo by Bradley Kanaris/Getty Images)

This is well ahead of Victoria and New South Wales at the start of each state’s lockdown, which had first-dose rates of 43 per cent and 32 per cent.

“The good thing is that we’re starting to see more and more of our people who are confirmed cases being double vaccinated,” Dr Young said.

“We know that if you’re double vaccinated that reduces your risk of transmitting the virus on if you become infected to 25 per cent – so you have one quarter the risk of someone who’s not vaccinated from passing on the virus.

“That’s what’s reassuring here.”

In “absolutely great news”, Ms Palaszczuk revealed the state should reach 70 per cent of people with a first dose by the end of the week.

However, the Premier said the state’s borders would “not necessarily” open when 80 per cent vaccination is reached.

Vaccinations have been the key to avoiding a lockdown so far. (Photo by Dan Peled/Getty Images)

“It depends on the situation of the day, it depends on what’s happening in New South Wales and Victoria,” she said.

Ms Palaszczuk said it was “hypothetical” to question whether the border would open in time for Christmas.

“I hope so, we’ve got to have as many Queenslanders as possible vaccinated but we’re not going to do it unless it’s safe to do so,” she said.

Infectious disease expert Professor Robert Booy said it was fantastic news the vaccines were doing their job in Queensland

“It’s not only that the transmission rate has dropped to 25 per cent after a person is double vaxxed but the severity of the disease in those that are vaccinated is a lot less and they are unlikely to need hospitalisation which is an important factor moving into the future,” Professor Booy said.

Just one dose of the vaccine is likely to be 80 per cent effective against symptomatic Covid.

Ms Palaszczuk also said Queenslanders could also now book Covid-19 vaccinations via the Check In Qld app.

Users will see the new vaccination button on the home screen after downloading the latest version of the app.

Queensland recorded two new cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday morning including a three-year-old girl linked to Brisbane’s aviation cluster.

The other was a 19-year-old woman who flew from Victoria to Brisbane and was quarantined after arriving.

There were 8390 tests in the preceding 24 hours, with Ms Palaszczuk urging Queenslanders to come forward and get tested to ensure the virus was not quietly circulating.