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Long line-ups as Queenslanders roll up their sleeves

Thousands of Queenslanders have flooded the state’s 18 vaccination hubs wanting their COVID-19 jab, but those with bookings have been urged to turn up and not let vaccines go to waste.

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The state’s 18 vaccination hubs have been inundated with Queenslander’s keen to roll up their sleeves and get the jab this weekend.

Already this morning long waits of up to an hour were being experienced at most hubs, including at the Rocklea Showgrounds.

People wait at the Rocklea Showgrounds hub. Picture: Annette Dew
People wait at the Rocklea Showgrounds hub. Picture: Annette Dew
Part of the queue at Rocklea’s vaccination hub. Picture: Annette Dew
Part of the queue at Rocklea’s vaccination hub. Picture: Annette Dew

The Logan vaccination hub is also fully booked today and Acting Deputy Commissioner Shane Chelepy – who visited that hub this morning – said Queensland is on track to reach 15,000 inoculations over the weekend.

Deputy Commissioner Chelepy said if you are a frontline worker you can go to a vaccination hub and you will receive first priority for the jab.

“We’ve seen what happened in Victoria recently and that has really sparked the community to come out and get vaccinated,” he said.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Shane Chelepy. Picture: Liam Kidston
Acting Assistant Commissioner Shane Chelepy. Picture: Liam Kidston

“We’re learning as we are going, from my information this morning some of our locations are hitting above targets and some of them a bit below,” he said.

Police will likely make announcements early next week about opening two or three new hubs next week and a further 14 hubs across the state as “quick as they can.”

Acting Deputy Commissioner said if you make a booking please show up to it due to logistic problems.

“The last thing we want to do is waste vaccine,” he said.

Security and police assisted the line for vaccinations at Rocklea Showgrounds Covid hub. Picture: Annette Dew
Security and police assisted the line for vaccinations at Rocklea Showgrounds Covid hub. Picture: Annette Dew

Deputy Commissioner Chelepy said police are equipped to deal with the rollout and will use the hubs to prepare for larger-scale vaccinations.

“We have done the big operations here before, we’ve had the Commonwealth Games in this state and the G20 in this state.”

“We definitely want to learn logistically what went well, what didn’t go well for the three hubs this weekend and then build that in so we get maximum capacity.”

The Townsville hub is today doing over 150 jabs an hour, and there are still available spots to book in at the Springfield hub.

The target of the hubs is to vaccinate all frontline workers and those aged between 40 and 49.

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Original URL: https://www.couriermail.com.au/coronavirus/long-lineups-as-queenslanders-roll-up-their-sleeves/news-story/1b1032bafbda5000569a9ff32c8a5379