Victoria ahead of schedule for critical reopening dates after Covid lockdown

Victoria is on track to be released early from lockdown. This is what senior state government insiders have said as the vaccine rollout continues.

Exclusive: Victoria is on track to be released early from lockdown with hopes growing fast that crowds will be at the Melbourne Cup.

The Saturday Herald Sun can reveal that official vaccination tracking, provided to the Andrews Government by Covid-19 Commander Jeroen Weimar and his team, has the state ahead of schedule for critical reopening dates.

Senior state government insiders on Friday night said there is growing confidence that at least 5000 fully vaccinated racegoers will be cheering on the winner trackside at Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day.

And nurses, Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt, Lord Mayor Sally Capp, Eddie McGuire, and business groups are urging Victorians to cut the gap between their first and second Pfizer doses from six weeks to three weeks to further turbocharge the path to freedom.

The government has been told that 70 per cent of people over 16 years old should be double jabbed by October 23 rather than October 26.

And the magical 80 per cent double-dose mark – which would allow for indoor dining, major events with up to 5000 people, and visitors in the home – should be met by November 3 rather than November 5.

Imogen Clark and Izzy Tipper brought their Pfizer dose forward three weeks in a bid to get fully vaccinated quicker. Picture: Jake Nowakowski

Melbourne Cup Day is on November 2, meaning if people can bring forward appointments for Pfizer doses – which can be safely administered three weeks after the first jab – then crowds would be on the cards for the race that stops the nation.

The state needs 726,053 second jabs to reach the 70 per cent double dose target, where outdoor swimming pools reopen, pubs can serve drinks outdoors, and hairdressers return.

This week’s spike in cases has made getting a second jab crucial to reducing pressure on hospitals, with fully vaccinated Victorians highly unlikely to be hospitalised with Covid-19.

Hopes for a quicker exit from lockdown comes as nurses urged people to book their jabs as soon as possible.

Lisa Fitzpatrick, Victorian secretary of the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation, said vaccination was now a race to save lives and to avoid a healthcare system crisis.

“If you’re one of the people who was part of the six-week Pfizer interval, do your bit for Victoria by jumping online and moving your appointment forward,” she said.

“You’ll be protected sooner and so will our health system, and we can enjoy our new freedoms instead of fear them.”

The Victorian Racing Club has called for a limit of 11,500 fully vaccinated patrons, given the road map says “state significant venues to be considered for larger crowds”.

There were 55,000 second jabs administered on Friday, meaning the state could reach 70 per cent double dose by October 21 at that rate – five days before the State Government’s planned target of October 26.

The Saturday Herald Sun has campaigned for the cut in dose gap to speed up the rollout in recent weeks.

Doses of Pfizer were initially administered three weeks apart early this year but once supply problems hit, the gap was stretched to six weeks in state-run hubs.

Premier Daniel Andrews reversed that on Monday this week, following an explosion in Pfizer and Moderna supply, and encouraged Victorians to reduce the dose gap to protect themselves quicker.

More than 84 per cent of Victorians have had a first dose, with every fast tracked second dose bringing the vaccination targets within reach.

GPs have already been giving doses at three or four week gaps, and chemists are pushing out more than 60,000 Moderna doses a week which have a four-week dose gap.

Mr Hunt said there was “cause for optimism” and that he would “encourage everybody” to reduce their Pfizer dose gap, which was in line with the original health advice.

“In the midst of the darkness, there’s light at the end of the tunnel in Victoria,” Mr Hunt said.

“The more people who can get that second dose earlier, the better, because that provides, particularly in Victoria, New South Wales and the ACT, significant additional coverage against hospitalisation and serious illness.”

Melbourne Lord Mayor Sally Capp said “it’s time to start living again.”

Eddie McGuire said: “Let’s build into this and get back to Marvellous Melbourne.”

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Originally published as Victoria ahead of schedule for critical reopening dates after Covid lockdown