Mass vaccination hub opens as Premier warns of more lockdowns until vaccine target reached

Annastacia Palaszczuk has used the opening of Brisbane’s new mass vaccination centre to warn of more potential lockdowns until Queensland reached a vaccination rate of 70 per cent.

It started with one small jab in a new mass hub, but it was a giant step forward in the pursuit of more freedom out of Covid-19 restrictions and lockdowns.

The line up of eager Queenslanders outside the state’s newest mass vaccination hub at Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre stretched more than 100m before doors even opened at 8.30am on Wednesday.

Mother Whitney McIntosh, 27, who was among one of the first to get her Pfizer jab.

“My kids both have respiratory issues, so it was important to me to get vaccinated. But just as a student and a nurse, it’s the right thing to do,” Ms McIntosh said.

There will be 1500 doses available each day until Friday before spiking to 3000 from Saturday onwards.

These jabs will mostly be Pfizer with a small number of AstraZeneca on hand just in case.

This hub is a major lifeline to Queensland’s lagging vaccination rollout with the state being ranked second lowest vaccination rate of any jurisdiction in the country with just 22.5 per cent fully jabbed.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison this week said he was confident 70 per cent of Australian adults would be vaccinated by the end of the year, a level modelling suggests could see restrictions eased.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk at the opening of Queensland’s new mass vaccination centre. Picture: Tara Croser.

But speaking at the opening of the new mass vaccination hub, Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk suggested Queenslanders should brace for more lockdowns in the coming months if there are further virus outbreaks and while we wait for vaccination rates to “come right up”.

“We know that lockdowns do have an impact, but these short, sharp lockdowns are working,” she said.

“Little did I think a week ago (with the latest South East Queensland lockdown) we’d be in such a good position here.

“You only have to look at what’s happening around the world. You only have to look at what’s unfortunately happening in NSW. You cannot let this Delta strain run so everything that can be done, must be done.”

Chief health officer Jeannette Young said outbreaks would be managed differently once the state reaches a vaccination rate of 70 per cent.

“We really and truly need to aim to get at least 70 per cent of our eligible population – that is people 16 years of age or older – vaccinated as soon as possible,” she said.

“Because that will protect us when we have our next outbreak, as unfortunately I‘m sure we will.

Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young. Picture: Tara Croser.

“As soon as we‘ve got 70 per cent of our adults 16 years plus vaccinated, we will be able to do things so much more differently. It will be excellent.”

Claire Greenhalgh, 30, wasn’t in a priority group but registered her interest just over a month ago before receiving her invitation to book an appointment on Tuesday morning.

“I just got it to keep things moving forward and to do my part to reduce my chances of passing it on to family and friends,” she said.

Queensland recorded four new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, while NSW had another disastrous day with 344 cases. Victoria had 20 new cases with their lockdown to be extended.

All four Queensland cases were linked to the Indooroopilly schools cluster and all were in quarantine – a result Premier Palaszczuk described as “absolutely tremendous”.

She also announced the lifting of the three-day Cairns lockdown – sparked by a Covid-positive cabbie – and thanked local residents for “doing the right thing”.

Inside the new mass vaccination centre and the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre. Picture: Jono Searle

But she said Cairns and Yarrabah were not out of the woods, and residents would continue to face the same restrictions as those in southeast Queensland in a bid to limit any community transmission.

The Indooroopilly cluster has now grown to 120 cases, with 156 active cases across the state.

On what was meant to be People’s Day at the Ekka, the RNA Showgrounds were transformed into a Covid testing centre for thousands of families from Brisbane Grammar School and Brisbane Girls Grammar who were caught up in the Indooroopilly outbreak.

The facility was set up to test students and their families on the 12th day of their home quarantine before they are granted freedom.

For most, their 14-day home quarantine will end just before midnight on Friday.

As more vaccination hub bookings are released by Queensland Health, invitations will be sent out to people based on their priority status and the demand in the region.

A Queensland Health spokeswoman has told those booked that in order to avoid long lines, people only need to arrive up to 10 minutes prior to their booking.