Outgoing chief health officer Jeannette Young makes final plea for people to get Covid-19 vaccine

One state’s outgoing chief health officer has pleaded for people to get vaccinated against Covid-19, saying it is ‘as close as we’ll get to a silver bullet’.

Outgoing chief health officer Jeannette Young has made a last-ditch plea for Queenslanders to get the Covid-19 vaccine.

Dr Young, who will be sworn in as the state’s 27th governor on Monday, issued a lengthy statement on Sunday saying it had been an “absolute honour” to serve as chief health officer for the past 16 years.

“The journey has been challenging, rewarding, at times stressful, but always satisfying,” she said.

“Covid-19 has commanded my attention day and night for almost two years now and I am certainly proud of the way we have weathered this crisis.”

More than 61 per cent of Queenslanders aged 16 and over are fully vaccinated, while more than 75 per cent have received their first dose.

“These two shots are as close as we’ll get to a silver bullet to this virus,” Dr Young said.

“Most, if not all, of us will get infected at some point.

“So I urge you – one last time as chief health officer – to get vaccinated if you have not already done so.”

Jeanette Young is making one final plea for people to get vaccinated before she stands down as Queensland’s chief health officer. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Jono Searle

Dr Young further urged anyone not planning to get the jab to reconsider.

“At the very least, I encourage you to speak with a medical professional — someone qualified to provide advice,” she said.

“Recently, I aired my wish to see at least 95 per cent of Queenslanders fully vaccinated.

“Granted, it’s a lofty goal, but if we can achieve that rate for childhood diseases, surely we can strive to do the same for a deadly virus that’s fuelling a global pandemic.”

Dr Young noted seven Queenslanders had died as a result of Covid-19.

“No matter how well this compares with other jurisdictions, I will always remember them and I’ll often pause to think of their families,” she said.

“But I’ll also be thankful this virus did not claim more lives.

“I believe our response as a health authority has been effective, but even the best prevention measures are futile if they’re ignored.”

Dr Young has urged anyone not planning to get the jab to reconsider. Picture: Frederic J. Brown/AFP

Reflecting on her career in health, Dr Young said many of her proudest achievements predated the pandemic.

“I was 43 when I was appointed to this role, fresh from a six-year stint in charge of medical services at Princess Alexandra Hospital,” she said.

“Back then, 20 per cent of Queensland adults smoked every day. We’ve since halved that.”

Dr Young said the child vaccination rate in 2005 was 77 per cent, but was now just under 95 per cent.

“Additional vaccines have been added to the schedule, so there are tens of thousands more children out there protected against serious diseases like whooping cough, measles and meningococcal disease,” she said.

“These metrics are very important to me because I know our efforts to reduce smoking and increase childhood immunisation have helped improve lifestyles and prevent deaths.”

Dr Young said she was also proud of her role in establishing a world class aeromedical retrieval service for all Queenslanders, as well as developing a new medical school in Central Queensland.

“I’ve been privileged to be in a profession I love for the past 35 years, but I am excited about the next chapter of my career,” she said.

Originally published as Outgoing chief health officer Jeannette Young makes final plea for people to get Covid-19 vaccine