Low vaccination rates prompts concerns from indigenous leaders on early border opening

Trailing vaccination rates in pockets across Queensland have prompted indigenous leaders to raise concerns over an early opening of the border to hot spots.

Indigenous leaders are wary of an early border opening as vaccination rates trail in communities across Queensland, the state’s peak medical group says.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is expected to today reveal new modelling on when Queensland will hit 80 per cent vaccination, and whether borders will open earlier than December 17.

However, AMA Queensland President, Professor Chris Perry says indigenous health leaders have raised their concerns with him about an early border opening while some communities are still some time away from achieving 80 per cent double-vaccinated.

Professor Chris Perry spoke to the Today Show Monday morning hours before Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is expected to make a potential announcement on the Queensland border.

”Aboriginal leaders have said maybe wait until vaccination lifts in those pockets which are way below that 80 per cent target,” Mr Perry said.

But Dr Perry said it was “plainly obvious” that Queensland cannot maintain an ‘Omicron-zero’ policy and it was about keeping it out a little longer.

“It’s a decision for the Premier not the AMA … but we have to open up and we want to do it when we’re fully vaccinated as best we can and we’re about there,” he said.

“It’s plainly obvious we can’t have Omicron zero … we know Omicron is coming to Queensland and we can’t hold it out but we’d like to keep it out a little longer if we can.”