Editorial: Queenslanders deserve an early Christmas present

Recent jab results show Queensland is prepared to do whatever it takes to have a ‘normal’ Christmas – now it’s time for the Premier to do the right thing, writes The Editor. VOTE IN OUR POLL

Queensland’s vaccine rollout has not been without its setbacks.

The slow arrival of vaccines to our shores meant the nation was off to a poor start, and with the federal government betting heavily on the AstraZeneca jab, we really stumbled out of the blocks.

Rare side-effects hurt public confidence in AZ, a situation that was exacerbated by negative comments from Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk and then chief health officer Jeannette Young.

Major outbreaks in NSW and Victoria saw our supply of AZ, Pfizer and Moderna diverted, and even when supply issues were finally sorted out complacency, particularly from regional centres that had never seen a Covid-19 case, saw Queensland languishing on the bottom of the jab ladder.

Premier of Queensland Annastacia Palaszczuk and local member Lance McCallum with students of Redbank Plains State High School Ellie Haimes, Elizabeth Langsiu, Johnny-Mack Makai and Alison Holmes. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

But the announcement last Monday of the roadmap back to normality for Queensland business – that stipulated unvaccinated people would be locked out of a host of venues – seems to have turned the tide.

On Saturday, more than 23,000 Queenslanders were vaccinated. Yesterday, our fully vaccinated rate surged through 70 per cent – the trigger to begin allowing those stuck interstate to return, and serve two weeks’ home quarantine.

However, the conditions surrounding home quarantine are such that many will refuse to undertake it, instead waiting until the borders open in earnest on December 17.

Applicants for home quarantine need to arrive by air and have a free-standing house that they can stay in – alone – for two weeks. In short, they have to evict their own family.

But the jab results of the last week have shown that Queenslanders are prepared to roll up their sleeves, particularly if it means we can enjoy a “normal” Christmas.

The state reached its 70 per cent double dose vaccination milestone on Sunday. Picture: NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

So now it’s time for the Premier to reward Queenslanders for doing the right thing – by opening up the state one week early.

Vaccinations are on the right trajectory – heading towards 90 per cent – and infectious diseases expert Dr Paul Griffin said it would be safe to open borders between December 6 and 10.

“We’re not going to see a massive influx of cases (on) day one,” he said. “People are protected even a small number of days after the second dose to a degree.”

Queensland Tourism Industry Council chief executive Daniel Gschwind echoed those sentiments.

“We have a level of protection even in Queensland now that should give us the confidence to move on,” he said.

Bringing the border opening – and the restrictions for unvaccinated Queenslanders – forward may also serve as added motivation for the vaccine-hesitant to finally get the jab.

We’ve all had a tough year – particularly those with loved ones interstate – and we all deserve an early Christmas present.