End of Covid lockdown could lead to ‘situation of concern’ in under-vaccinated towns: Richmond candidate Mandy Nolan

A North Coast resident has questioned whether or not new modelling has taken into account a higher rate of “vaccine-resistant” people.

Mandy Nolan gets her Covid-19 vaccination.

Greens candidate for Richmond and comedian, Mandy Nolan, has raised concerns about how the state government’s road map to ease restrictions may impact parts of the Northern Rivers.

In particular, she said she was concerned for Byron Shire residents where between 40 and 50 per cent of those eligible have had their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.

That’s lower than other parts of the Northern Rivers and surrounds with figures showing Tweed, Clarence Valley, Coffs Harbour, Kempsey, Kyogle, Richmond Valley and Lismore local government areas at 50 to 60 per cent.

Ms Nolan said decision-makers would need to be mindful of what reopening would look like locally.

Mullumbimby was among many towns across the country where anti-lockdown protests were held.

The event involved a large gathering of people outside the Byron Shire Council chambers.

“I don’t think they’ve done the modelling of what our vaccination rate is going to look like when we open up and how that might look,” she said.

“We do have a lot of vaccine-hesitant and vaccine-resistant people in our community.”

Ms Nolan said a “situation of concern” could arise if a Covid-19 cluster developed in the region.

“I have concerns about how it’s going to impact my community and there’s so many people in my community that will choose not to vaccinate and they will be very vulnerable,” she said.

Ms Nolan said other safety measures would remain crucial in areas like Byron Bay.

The state government’s current road map out of lockdown is limited, however, to allowing greater freedoms to individuals who have received two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine.

From 12.01am on Monday, September 12, double-dosed adults will be able to gather outdoors in a group of up to five people within their local government area or within 5km from their home.

It came after NSW reached a target of six million vaccinations.

Further freedoms – for those who are vaccinated – are expected when the state hits 70 and 80 per cent vaccination targets.

NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian reiterated her reasons for only easing restrictions for double-vaccinated people at her Monday press conference.

“There is still a risk of not overwhelming the hospital system,” she said.

“The biggest determinant of whether someone ends up in hospital … is whether they’ve been vaccinated.”

Ms Nolan earlier this year wrote about her “overwhelming grief” caused by a “disharmony” she had never before seen in her local community and has spoken out against health misinformation.

The Northern NSW Local Health District has been approached for comment.

The state government has meanwhile released fresh modelling, focusing on local government areas of concern, which has predicted cases would continue to grow until mid-September.