Queenslanders won’t be fully vaccinated until mid-2022: expert

Queensland has the second worst full Covid-19 vaccination rate in the nation, with fears everyone eligible in the state will receive two jabs much later than expected.

Queensland has the second worst full Covid-19 vaccination rate in the nation, with doubts everyone eligible in the state will receive two jabs by the middle of next year.

Only 106,930 Queenslanders, or 2.6 per cent of over 16s, have had their two Covid jabs, a rate just in front of Victoria.

The Sunshine State is also performing poorly with the rollout of first doses. Only 20.54 per cent of Queenslanders had received one jab as at June 11 – the third lowest rate in the Australia.

While the vaccination rates are accelerating, with the number of jabs administered doubling in a week, Professor Robert Booy from the University of New South Wales said it is going to take every Queenslander doing their bit to hit a winter 2022 deadline.

“Even with the accelerated vaccine rates and the promise of extra supplies from the Federal Government, the rollout is challenging with mountains to climb and will take extra effort from Queenslanders,” Prof Booy said.

“Later this year we will have four products on the market, Pfizer, AstraZeneca, Moderna and hopefully Novavax. With this range of vaccines it will be easier to meet everyone’s needs.”

It is hoped that Novavax will be approved by the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) for use by October.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk received her first Pfizer vaccination last week. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Sarah Marshall

The Northern Territory and the ACT have the highest rates of Australians who are fully vaccinated at 7.7 per cent and 7.4 per cent.

Tasmania has 5.8 per cent with two jabs, WA 3.4 per cent, NSW 3.1 per cent as at June 10.

Internationally, Australia is still last in the rollout race, with less than three per cent of the population fully vaccinated behind Covid-ravaged India. Top performer Israel has hit almost 60 per cent, while the United States and United Kingdom sit at over 40 per cent.

Treasurer Josh Fydenberg said last month “that every Australian who would like to get two shots of the vaccine will be able to do so by the end of the year”.

“Well, it’s always a good idea to aim high but I think we are looking at next year. It is a goal to aim for, it will be a real gift for Queenslanders to be able to travel and see family and friends in certain bubble locations,” Prof Booy said.

The rollout has faced multiple setbacks, including global supply and unreliable distribution from the Commonwealth to the states.

The Australian Government has announced it will release an additional 100,000 vaccines for Victoria which is lagging behind the rest of the country in vaccine uptake.

“It’s important to keep up momentum, there is no leeway for numbers to plateau,” Prof Booy said.