Qld Covid vaccine: More than 10,000 overdue for second dose

Queenslanders are lagging behind the rest of the nation in getting fully vaccinated, with 10,000 overdue for their second dose. VOTE IN OUR POLL

More than 10,000 Queenslanders are overdue for their second dose of the Pfizer jab, data has revealed, with the state lagging behind the rest of the country for numbers of those getting fully vaccinated.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young has implored everyone who is eligible to be vaccinated to roll up their sleeve, saying it was “absolutely critical” that people get a Covid-19 jab.

Her comments came amid a major outbreak in NSW that has swelled to more than 40 locally acquired cases and a further three cases in Queensland linked to a leak of the virus in hotel quarantine.

“It is very, very important, more important than ever, that people who are in the target groups at this stage come forward and get vaccinated,” Dr Young said.

“I need all of those 1a and 1b people to be vaccinated, they are absolutely critical.

“And then we need older people because they’re most at risk if they get infected.”

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young. Picture: Dan Peled/NCA NewsWire

Federal health data revealed there are 10,872 Queenslanders who are due to receive their second Pfizer jab that have failed to attend a state-controlled clinic to get it done.

Queensland Health confirmed it is “strongly recommended” that people book in for their second dose while getting their first jab and if they do not, the department will contact them to get it sorted.

While it is encouraged that the second Pfizer jab is received 21 days after the first dose, but the official recommendation is that the second dose can be done up to 42 days after the initial jab.

Queensland Health figures show more than 114,644 people have been fully vaccinated through the state-controlled program.

Overall just 4.6 per cent of Queenslanders aged above 16 have been fully vaccinated according to nationwide figures published by WA Health and sourced from the federal government.

The only publicly available full vaccination data also revealed Queensland has the smallest proportion of people fully vaccinated, with WA and NSW sitting on 5 per cent and 5.4 per cent respectively as at June 22.

It can also be revealed that regional Queenslanders will soon have more ways to get a jab, with the federal government inviting 105 extra community pharmacies to join the rollout program.

Pharmacy Guild of Australia president Trent Twomey said the pharmacies, should they come on board and join the 49 sites already running, would be able to start taking bookings in three weeks.

He said pharmacies would offer the AstraZeneca jab first, but consistent with the national plan will also administer the Moderna vaccine later in the year.

Originally published as Qld Covid vaccine: More than 10,000 overdue for second dose