Gold Coast vaccination rates: ‘Precious’ state government accused of hiding data
A Gold Coast councillor has accused the state government of hiding critical vaccination data which could boost the city’s jab take-up. WHAT HE SAID >>
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A GOLD Coast councillor has accused the state government of hiding critical vaccination data which could boost the city’s jab take-up.
On Tuesday, the Bulletin reported that classified Queensland Health data showing postcode breakdowns of Covid jab rates was being supplied to Gold Coast City Council.
But Division 2 Councillor William Owen-Jones said council had since been blocked from accessing it.
Cr Owen-Jones slammed the move, writing a scathing post on his Facebook page on Thursday describing the government as “precious”.
On Friday, he told the Bulletin: “(I have) no idea why the government is reluctant to share the finer grain detail.
“This postcode data provides very relevant local information for our communities.”
Cr Owen-Jones urged the government to “release the postcode data”.
“Let’s use this to help encourage our city to get as close to fully vaccinated as possible,” he said.
The state government was contacted for comment, but did not respond.
The Bulletin has been asking for this postcode vaccination information since last Friday.
On Monday afternoon, Queensland Health said it was working through what this data would look like for distribution and hoped to have something to provide by the end of the week.
It has since advised it would not be able to supply the information this week and would have an update next week.
On the Coast, 81.8 per cent of people have received their first jab and 69.8 per cent were fully vaccinated.
Qld Gov refuse to release Coast Covid vaccine rate data - November 16
THE state government is refusing to release a postcode breakdown of the city’s vaccination rates as the Gold Coast continues to lag behind other areas.
The Bulletin has been asking for the data since Friday. On Monday afternoon, Queensland Health said it was working through what this data would look like for distribution and hoped to have something to provide by the end of the week.
However, several Gold Coast councillors last month shared snippets of the classified data on social media without explaining its source.
District disaster coordinators have been supplying mayors with Queensland Health data showing suburb breakdowns of Covid jab rates.
Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate alluded to this private Covid data last month, when he argued the borders could reopen by November 25.
“I’ve analysed the statistics including the surge in Covid vaccination uptake over the weekend and it confirms that if we kept that trend up, the Queensland-NSW border fencing should be ripped up and thrown out the dump on November 25 – not December 17,’’ he said at the time.
Councillors William Owen-Jones, Ryan Bayldon-Lumsden and Glenn Tozer have already shared some of the classified data on their official Facebook pages, but have not mentioned where the data was sourced from.
A council spokesman said the data was received from a Queensland government agency, but declined to comment further on the matter.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk yesterday said 81.99 per cent of eligible Queensland residents had received their first vaccination and 70.25 per cent were double-dosed.
On the Coast, 78.8 per cent had received their first jab and 67.2 per cent were fully vaccinated.
At a press conference in Burleigh yesterday, the Premier said suburbs such as Coomera, Pimpama, Lower Beechmont and Natural Bridge had the city’s lowest vaccination rates.
However, no figures were given.
The city has faced a sluggish jab take up when compared to Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast.
The Bulletin has been told the worst-performing suburbs on the Gold Coast for Covid vaccination rates are Advancetown, Austinville, Clagiraba, Guanaba, Lower Beechmont, Natural Bridge, Numinbah Valley, Pimpama, Southport-North, Springbrook and Surfers Paradise.
Each of these suburbs are under 70 per cent first dose.
Last week, Griffith University social marketing expert Joy Parkinson said the city’s sluggish jab take up, when compared to Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, were related to choice, rather than access.
“There’s more people who choose not to get vaccinated full stop,” she said.
“The Byron Bay effect is at play on the Gold Coast.”
Ms Palaszczuk has repeatedly called on Gold Coasters to lift jab rates.
“The Gold Coast is Queensland’s first frontier,” she said.
“It’s more important than ever before that Gold Coasters come forward to get vaccinated.
“If not for you, do it to protect your family and friends.
“It’s also vital that you get tested if you’re sick.”
‘Byron Bay effect’: Surprising cause of low Coast vax rate
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The “Byron Bay effect” has played a role in the Gold Coast’s low vaccination rate, a social marketing expert says.
Griffith University’s Joy Parkinson said the city’s sluggish jab take up, when compared to Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, were related to choice, rather than access.
“There’s more people who choose not to get vaccinated full stop,” she said.
“The Byron Bay effect is at play on the Gold Coast.”
The Northern Rivers is known for having the lowest childhood vaccination rates in NSW, while Byron has earned a reputation as the home of the nation’s hippy movement.
Queensland Health data as at November 7 showed 66.3 per cent of eligible Gold Coasters aged 15 and over were fully vaccinated, compared to 71.2 per cent on the Sunshine Coast and 74.5 per cent in Brisbane inner-city.
Upper Coomera Respiratory Clinic co-owner Dr Sonu Haikerwal said the number of vaccine doses being administered at the clinic had nose-dived.
“We were doing about 200 to 300 a day. We’ve halved that now,” she said.
“We have been doing mostly second doses and we’re not getting first doses. Those people who need to get vaccinated are not coming in.
“Those who are choosing not to get the vaccine are still sitting on the fence.”
Dr Haikerwal said banning unvaccinated people from venues and services would not work.
“I think there’s going to be a big rebellion on the Gold Coast,” she said.
A spokesman for Gold Coast Mayor Tom Tate said the city’s lagging rates were due to pandemic fatigue and a lack of engagement from young people.
“The youth market is a concern and that’s why council has spent $70,000 on a direct-message campaign to youth through the channels they follow,” he said.
Queensland recorded four new Covid-19 cases yesterday – two in home quarantine and two in hotel quarantine.
On Friday health authorities were unable to confirm if Schoolies would go ahead.
“We don’t want to cancel Schoolies ... But it’s going to depend on what happens over the next seven days,” Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk said.
Lack of clarity on vaccine mandate
Queensland Police have side-stepped questions over whether those with only a single jab could expect the same enforcement action as unvaccinated people.
Come December 17, many businesses will be free of Covid-19 restrictions and distancing rules for double vaccinated patrons, but the unvaccinated disallowed entry under new state government rules.
GUIDE TO WHAT YOU CAN AND CAN'T DO IF YOU HAVEN’T BEEN VACCINED
A Queensland Police spokesman could not clarify whether or not police would treat single dose patrons the same as the unvaccinated.
“Police will enforce the legislation as it is set out in the Chief Health Officer’s Public Health Direction,” he said.
“As we have done throughout the pandemic, police will continue to take an educative approach to achieve compliance across the community.”
Those who “blatantly disregard the rules” could expected to be slapped with a $1378 fine for individuals and a $6892 fine for businesses, police said.
Gold Coast hospitality businesses have been busy fielding calls and messages from customers in the days since the vaccine edict was announced.
Robina Pavilion general manager Damien Stephen reported a drop-off in function bookings, with staff required to email advice to customers with Christmas bookings.
“We would have no problem providing a refund if required,” he said.
“I expected there to be a high level of anti-vax sentiment among our day-to-day hotel regulars, but on the whole I haven’t seen that.”
Nightfall Glamping owner Steve Ross said an unvaccinated customer had recently contacted him about clarification for their booking mid-next year.
“I’m guessing we will get more as it gets closer (to December 17),” he said.
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