Queensland falling behind in race to 80 per cent vaccination

Queensland is falling behind in the race to vaccinate, recording four of Australia’s 10 local council areas with the lowest number of people jabbed, including one area where less than five per cent are fully covered.

Queensland is falling behind in the race to vaccinate with the state having four of Australia’s 10 local council areas with the lowest number of people jabbed.

The Sunday Mail can reveal the vaccination rates for first and second doses across Queensland local council areas as the country races to the figure of 80 per cent.

It comes as the national vaccination program hit 18.7 million doses with 6.4 million given in the last four weeks.

The Queensland council area with highest vaccination rate is Goondiwindi, where 70.8 per cent of people have been given one jab and 49.7 per cent are fully protected.

It was the only council area in the state where more than 70 per cent have been partially protected.

The next best vaccinated area was Hinchinbrook with 58.6 per cent of people partially protected and 40.4 per cent double jabbed, followed by Noosa with 57.1 per cent and 32.9 per cent respectively.

Across Brisbane 53.8 per cent of people have had one dose with 34.1 per cent fully protected. The state’s worst performer is Cherbourg with 19.3 per cent and 4.5 per cent respectively.

It is followed by Isaac and Yarrabah where less than a quarter of the population have had even one jab.

Even a major regional centre like Gladstone is lagging with 39.4 per cent single and 24 per cent double jabbed.

People line up at the mass vaccination hub in Brisbane, where 53.8 per cent of people have had one dose of a Covid-19 vaccine. Picture: Tara Croser.

The worst performing LGA in the country is Grant near Mount Gambier in South Australia where only 14.2 per cent people have been vaccinated.

In contrast to Brisbane’s 53.8 per cent, most of the LGA in Sydney are at partial vaccination rates of more than 60 per cent, and 11 have hit 70 per cent partially vaccinated.

The figures also show the hippie heartland of Byron is living up to its reputation as an anti-vaxxer stronghold with only 46.1 per cent of people partially protected and a quarter of the population double jabbed.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said vaccination was the best way to protect everyone from Covid-19 and was also part of the National Plan to safely reopen and move out of lockdowns.

“Australians are rolling up their sleeves and getting vaccinated in record numbers but we must encourage every Australian in every community to come forward and get the jab,” he said.