Covid-19 Victoria: Chief health officer Brett Sutton’s bleak warning to unvaccinated

Victoria’s chief health officer has issued a bleak caution to the unvaccinated as the state prepares to open up later this month.

Victoria’s chief health officer Brett Sutton has issued a bleak caution to the unvaccinated, warning “everyone will get Covid” as the state gradually opens up.

As of Tuesday, 60.9 per cent of the state’s population was fully vaccinated, edging closer to the 70 per cent target needed to end lockdown.

But there continues to be concern people are holding off getting vaccinated, with some even going so far as to obtain fake jab certificates.

Professor Sutton said eventually everyone would be exposed to the virus.

“It is not a nothing illness for anyone and, I think, over the course of another year, another two years, absolutely everyone will get it as we open up,” he said.

“We are not going to hold back in terms of how we live our lives and move around when we are a fully vaccinated population and that means there will be widespread transmission of this virus.”

Victorian chief health officer Brett Sutton said eventually everyone would be exposed to the virus. Picture: Robert Cianflone/Getty Images

According to a recent report from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies in the United Kingdom, the virus is likely to evolve into a more dangerous form.

Leading physicians, scientists and epidemiologists predicted a number of outcomes for the trajectory of the virus, including an ability to evade vaccines and multiple drugs, evolve into a more lethal variant that would kill up to 35 per cent of infected people or become similar to the common cold.

Vaccinated people can still catch Covid, but the chances of getting infected are lower regardless of which vaccine received.

In a large outbreak, vaccinated individuals can still catch the virus but are most likely to experience only mild symptoms.

There will likely be ongoing restrictions for the unvaccinated in the foreseeable future. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

As the state prepares to open later this month, there is concern fake vaccine certificates are circulating online.

There will be ongoing restrictions for the unvaccinated for the foreseeable future, with those who decline the vaccine unable to attend events, bars and eateries and some public buildings.

Restrictions in Victoria are already offering more freedom to vaccinated people, with larger numbers allowed to gather outdoors compared with the unvaccinated.

Websites offering people fake vaccination certificates have popped up in recent weeks, offering people documents for a fee.

Authorities are aiming to get around this with the use of animated holograms on the Service Victoria app, but Professor Sutton said there was still concern.

“We know there are some highly motivated individuals that are trying to get around the system. They have found some very creative ways to try,” he said.

“Our department are being very clever about how those certificates are going to be validated and not be able to be counterfeited.”

As the state prepares to open later this month, there is concern fake vaccine certificates are circulating online. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

Data has suggested around 4 per cent of people would flat out refuse the vaccine.

Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley told those considering paying for certificates to not waste their money.

“Why fool yourself that you think handing over money to some crook is going to let you into a venue when the easiest way is to go and get vaccinated,” Mr Foley said.

“We are opening up to the vaccinated community, and people who choose to put themselves outside of that system, they take the consequences of that decision.

“Why would you risk (your health) for the sake of a false certificate?”

Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley urged people to not buy fake vaccine certificates. Picture Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

The state recorded 1571 cases on Wednesday and a high of 13 deaths, with an easing of restrictions in sight despite high numbers of infections each day.

Officials believe Covid cases will begin to trend downwards in the coming days, with cases currently on a plateau.

It’s expected there will be more days of “significant deaths” in the coming weeks.

Professor Sutton said he was pleased the state had lower relative hospitalisation and ICU rates compared with NSW.

“We’re going to be doing everything we can to protect those who are not eligible yet for a vaccine and some who won’t be eligible in the longer term,” he said.

“Getting vaccinated is a huge protection from hospitalisation.”

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Originally published as Covid-19 Victoria: Chief health officer Brett Sutton’s bleak warning to unvaccinated