Chief Health Officer warns lockdowns could happen if vaccine rates don’t increase

Parts of North Queensland could go into lockdown if the vaccination rates don’t increase before the border opens.

PARTS of North Queensland could go into lockdown if the vaccination rates don’t increase before December 17.

Chief Health Officer Jeannette Young is concerned that if North Queensland can’t meet the 80 per cent target in time for the border to reopen, it could be subjected to further lockdowns to protect the community.

Dr Jeannette Young at the Townsville Community Vaccination Centre. Picture: Caitlan Charles

Dr Young, along with Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk visited the Townsville Community Vaccination Clinic on Wednesday, in a bid to encourage more people to get jabbed.

While she “desperately hopes” it won’t come to further lockdowns, it could be the key to getting more people vaccinated.

“If you’ve got a community with very low vaccination rates, maybe one of the only strategies while people get vaccinated is to recommend to the Premier that there needs to be a lockdown in that community,” Dr Young said.

“That is what had to happen in New South Wales and Victoria, and as a result, people came out in droves to get vaccinated so they could get out of lockdown.

“It’s been very, very successful, but I think we’re smarter than that in Queensland.

“We don’t need that to happen, we can get vaccinated so we don’t need the lockdowns.”

Dr Young said if people were not fully vaccinated, there would be a big risk when the borders open.

She said it took a minimum of five weeks to be fully protected, with two additional weeks required after the second dose for it to be most effective.

“You’ve got a fantastic health service here in North Queensland, particularly here in Townsville, but even they will struggle if you remain at the rates you are at the moment,” Dr Young said.

“We’ve got to aim for every single 12 year old and older because some of them are going to be affected and most will pass it on and infect other people.”

Ms Palaszczuk and other Cabinet Ministers are on tour around the state at the moment, trying to get the last few local government areas over the line ahead of reopening.

North Queensland is well behind target with local government areas like Charters Towers with just 40.1 per cent of people fully vaccinated and 56.1 per cent with one dose.

However, in Hinchinbrook 79 per cent of the community has done dose and 67.2 per cent has two.

There have been questions raised about the availability of the vaccine in Charters Towers, with no permanent state-run clinic set up.

“That is a good question but there are GPs and pharmacies that are available now for people to go and get their vaccines,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

“They should be talking to their local GPs, talking to their local pharmacists to get their vaccine.” 

Dr Young will leave her role as Chief Health Officer at the end of the month.

She will be replaced by Dr Krispin Hajkowicz.

Lockdowns loom if vax rate remains low

TOWNSVILLE and surrounds could face snap lockdowns if vaccination rates don’t increase as the government prepares to reopen the border.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced border restrictions will ease as early as November 19, with fully vaccinated able to cross the border unrestricted come December 17 – just in time for Christmas.

But the announcement comes with a caveat – regional Queensland must pick up its vaccination game. The Premier said yesterday if vaccination rates did not increase, an outbreak in the regions could spark a lockdown.

While much of the southeast corner is about to crack 70 per cent fully vaccinated, in Townsville, just under 70 per cent of the eligible population have received their first dose.

Charters Towers is the second worst in the state with just 40.1 per cent fully vaccinated and 56.1 per cent with one dose.

However, Ms Palaszczuk said there was room to move milestones forward if Queenslanders were quick to ramp up vaccinations.

“It’s simple,” the Premier said. “The more of us who are vaccinated, the sooner we are safely reunited with friends and family interstate and overseas.”

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk's media team working overtime to push her vaccination road map Picture Facebook

Despite a major push over the last few months to get regional Queensland vaccinated, there is still a significant group of people holding out.

Townsville GP Dr Michael Clements said about a month ago, his practice’s vaccination clinic was seeing hundreds of people. But a clinic on Sunday just gone only gave out 70 jabs.

While he said there was a large group of people who were choosing not to get vaccinated, there was a vulnerable group that needed help.

Dr Clements said many people living at home with a disability, in Indigenous or remote communities, homeless people or refugees needed help to get vaccinated.

“It is not fair to tell them they’ve had their chance,” he said.

Dr Clements’ practice has been working with the Townsville Multicultural Support Group to help get that part of the community vaccinated. But the doctor said it takes time to work through the information with people.

He said other people were actively avoiding getting vaccinated, for whatever reason. “Some of those people will never get vaccinated,” Dr Clements said.

“We suspect a large number of those don’t perceive a threat and therefore have decided to hold off.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk provides a COVID update with Deputy Premier Steven Miles at back. Picture: NCA NewsWire / John Gass

Dr Clements said when the borders open, that would change, with every Australian exposed to Covid-19 at the end of next year. “If we go off the current figures that say 20 per cent of the adult population … are likely to catch Covid at some point in the next year,” he said. “And 1 or 2 per cent (of that 20 per cent) will die, maybe 5 per cent will end up in hospital.”

Townsville Mayor Jenny Hill said while statewide jab rates were encouraging. “If you dig a little deeper into the statistics you see the rates in regional and remote areas are not where they should be. They should be much higher,” Cr Hill said.

“This is of tremendous concern, especially as we approach the wet season.”

THE PLAN

70% vaccinated

Anyone who has been in a declared domestic hotspot in the past 14 days can travel to Queensland if they:

- Are fully vaccinated

-Arrive by air

-Have a negative Covid-19 test in the previous 72 hours

- Undertake home quarantine.

80% vaccinated

- Travellers form an interstate hotspot can arrive by road or air

- They must be fully vaccinated

-They must have negative Covid-19 test in the previous 72 hours

- No Quarantine is required

90% vaccinated

-There are no entry or quarantine restrictions for vaccinated arrivals

- Unvaccinated people will need to apply for a border pass, or enter within the international arrivals cap, and complete 14 days quarantine.

Grant to help growing club

THE Alma Bay clubhouse of the Arcadian Surf Life Saving Club will undergo major renovations after receiving a $160,000 grant

Announced on Saturday, Arcadian received the welcome support for its Alma Bay upgrade from the Building Better Regions Fund.

Herbert MP Phillip Thompson said the club had a 58 per cent increase in membership over the past five years, so the extra space would allow the group to keep growing into the future.

“Unfortunately the Alma Bay Clubhouse just hasn’t been meeting their needs for a very long time, with not enough space for their all-important training activities and parts of the building being rundown and in need of urgent maintenance,” he said.

“This renovation and extension will create new fit-for-purpose training spaces and dormitories, as well as provide the opportunity for school and community groups to use the building.”

The project includes a new 5m wide timber deck at the front of the clubhouse, with the first aid room moved to one end to provide better access for lifesavers and lifeguards.

Arcadia Club House

New school planned for Mount Louisa

A PROPOSED new school for students on the autism spectrum has led to concern over increased traffic on two Townsville roads.

The new school, which will be called Calvary Special School, is planned for a vacant lot on Bayswater Road.

However, Deputy Mayor and chairman of the Planning and Development Committee Mark Molachino has flagged concerns about the increased traffic on Raynesford Rd, the main access point for the school.

Cr Molachino said the increase in traffic, particularly when the development was complete, could be a detriment to the community.

He said the majority of people who access the school will have to come via Bayswater Rd, which could create issues for other road users.

Cr Molachino and councillor Anne-Maree Greaney also asked questions about queuing spilling out onto the local road.

However, council staff said there was a 45m gap between the road and the collection area, and staged pick ups planned.

The council report says it is estimated the school, at its full capacity of 120 students plus staff, will generate 137 vehicles per hour during its peak periods.

A petition was lodged with the council against the development, calling for the access road to be Bayswater Rd instead of Raynesford Dr.

“Carers dropping off or collecting students will not be permitted to park on Raynesford Drive and walk to and from their vehicles with students and will be required to enter the school grounds to drop off or pick up students,” the council report says.

The proposal for the school includes a three-stage construction.

It will include six single-storey classrooms, and a centrally located administration building, covered outdoor area and playground.

The new school will initially cater for grades one and two, with aims to cater for students through to grade 10 eventually.

“The rollout of grades three to 10 will be determined over time and on a needs basis,” the council report says

Stage one will include space for 40 students, stage two for 80 students and stage three for 120 students.

At its capacity, it is also expected the school will have 35 staff members.

“The proposed special school will provide an inclusive learning environment for students with autism,” the application says.

“Teacher to student ratios will be lower than mainstream schools, as classes need to be smaller to better suit the students’ needs and afford a better and manageable learning environment.”

‘We don’t have time’: Visa push for stranded Afghan

AN Afghanistan veteran has taken his fight to save his friend to the Opposition in a last-ditch effort to secure a visa for the former civilian worker.

Stephen Moore, a former Australian Defence Force engineer, has written to everyone he can think of to try and secure safe passage for a man he worked with in Afghanistan.

But after multiple emails and calls to anyone who would listen, Mr Moore is still waiting to hear if his friend will make it out of Kabul.

Mr Moore was an engineer who helped train Afghan locals. “Four of our guys emigrated to Australia with their families,” he said.

“There were six, one has been killed already.”

Mr Moore said some had wanted to stay because Afghanistan was where they were from.

But one of the men still in Afghanistan has had to flee the Taliban, and despite applying for a visa to come to Australia is still yet to hear from the government. “In working for us, they were always promised protection,” Mr Moore said.

He said it had got to the point where he was sending money to his friend every week just to make sure they had food. “I can only think the reason they haven’t got a visa is because they’re illiterate,” Mr Moore said.

“There’s no embassy anymore, they don’t know when they were born.

“This was the trouble we had trying to get the other guys over, it took so long to get them a visa, but we had plenty of time. We don’t have time now.”

The veteran met with Opposition veteran affairs spokesman Shayne Neumann in Townsville on Monday to try and advocate on behalf of his friend.

Mr Neumann said he would be passing on Mr Moore’s story to the right department to help get his friend’s case heard.

“This is a humanitarian crisis of a massive proportion,” Mr Neumann said.

He said multiple agencies had called on the government to do more.

“We’re working with the government the best (we can),” Mr Neumann said. “Fundamentally, the Morrison government must do more, and must do better.”

Herbert MP Phillip Thompson, who was one of the people Mr Moore contacted, said he was working on the veteran’s friends’ case, but it was slow going.

Mr Thompson said he spoke with family members of the man, and had passed on information to the department.

“My heart is with them and their families as they bounce from safe house to safe house,” he said. “The Taliban has made it very difficult for Coalition forces and different forces to negotiate on pulling out more people.

“We are working with surrounding countries to see if we can get people out that way.”

Mr Thompson said the Australian Defence Force personnel who went to Afghanistan to help evacuate people had done a brilliant job in a dangerous situation.

Mr Thompson said he was speaking with ministers, assistant ministers, and the Prime Minister about getting more people out, but it would take time. “We need to honour commitments given to people,” Mr Thompson said.

He added that the department was slow, but it was working through the cases put to them.

Shayne Neumann

BETTER VETERAN SUPPORT NEEDED

THE opposition has accused federal Herbert MP Phillip Thompson of spending more time complaining about the state and local governments than dealing with the needs of veterans.

In a visit to Townsville, veterans affairs opposition spokesman Shayne Neumann said Mr Thompson had failed veterans.

“He spends most of his time attacking the state Labor MPs, the state Labor government in Brisbane, as well as the Townsville City Council,” Mr Neumann said.

“We need a unifier, not a divider, as the member for Herbert.”

Mr Neumann said Mr Thompson and the federal government has been “dragged, kicking and screaming” to support a royal commission into defence and veteran suicide.

Labor’s Herbert candidate John Ring said there were also serious issues with the Department of Veterans’ Affairs that had not been addressed.

“If you’ve got an injury, you’re in pain for 18 months before you even find out your claim is approved,” Mr Ring said. “And a lot of times it is not approved.”

Mr Neumann said there needed to be more full-time jobs in DVA and less labour hire to help improve the longevity of the workforce.

Mr Thompson said it was “disappointing” that the opposition spokesman for DVA would “mislead people in Townsville”.

The MP said he supported veterans in his time in government, including backing the royal commission. However, Mr Thompson said the issues at DVA were concerning.

He said an extra $98.5m had been contributed at the last budget for a full-time public service workforce to help get through the backlog of claims and concerns.

Mr Thompson said he himself had issues with DVA, and it was one of the driving forces behind his decision to run for Herbert in the last election.

Senate candidate takes aim at career politicians

EDWINA Andrew is not a career politician.

In fact, it is her goal as a Senate candidate for Labor to hold those people to account for the people of Queensland.

Ms Andrew, who grew up in Townsville, has spent most of her working life in the child and family sector which she credits as a key drive in her decision to run for the Senate.

“I have always worked in the child and family sector, always working to support children and families in areas of disadvantage, particularly in regional Queensland,” she said.

“Much of my career has been in regional Queensland and I have seen so much go on, so much disadvantage, so much important decision making that goes on that affects people in the region.”

Ms Andrew said she hoped to create change for the regions, but knew it would be a difficult task.

Ms Andrew is third on Labor’s Queensland Senate ticket, which means a Kevin ’07 landslide would be required to secure her the spot.

But despite that, Ms Andrew is determined to make noise about the needs of the people and be a voice for regional Queensland.

Having lived in Richmond, Gladstone, Rockhampton and Townsville, Ms Andrew has had a lot of experience in the issues regional Queensland faces.

She said in people in regional Queensland were lacking the “basics of life”.

“We’re talking about access to health care, access to education, access to housing and access to secure work,” Ms Andrew said.

“We’re seeing the rental squeeze now, even in Townsville, and in fact in Townsville I think it is exacerbated because people are coming from big cities and they come into Townsville as a large regional centre.

“But they’re also going Outback – to smaller towns like Charleville, Mount Isa, it’s horrific at the moment, you see things like little one-bedroom dongas with plastic showers going for $400 a week. It’s just not affordable.

“Then there is a line-up of people applying for it and Townsville is just the same.”

Ms Andrew said there were things, like affordable housing, that everyone had a right to access.

While she thought about running for state government and the lower house on a federal level, Ms Andrew said it was where policy came to “live or die” that really had her interest.

“That’s (the Senate) is where the government’s held to account, that’s where decision making happens,” she said. “That is where I wanted to have that impact.”

Ms Andrew is a mother and grandmother, which has helped drive her to want to represent the views of the community.

With children and family members who work in health, transport, as first responders and more, she knows there is work to be done for the community.

“If I’m saying I want to be elected to the Senate, I’m also representing the viewpoint of the community, so I’m not taking my own views, I’m taking other people’s views,” she said.

“I know what is important for people in everyday life and the support work that I’ve done … but I need to hear from people what’s important for them.”

Ms Andrew is the partner of Townsville Bulletin journalist Leighton Smith.

Originally published as Chief Health Officer warns lockdowns could happen if vaccine rates don’t increase