High booster rates put Australia on track to scrap restrictions

Victoria has recorded 7104 Covid cases and two deaths as ongoing restrictions and lockdowns are set to be scrapped.

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Victoria has recorded 7104 Covid cases and two deaths on Monday.

There are 465 people in hospital with Covid in Victoria, with 66 in intensive care and 18 on ventilators.

More than 93 per cent of eligible Victorians are fully vaccinated and the state has 53,707 active cases.

Four out of five Australians have either had a Covid booster shot or are planning to, according to federal government research showing broad recognition of the importance of the third jab.

As of last month, 83 per cent of Australians had received the third shot or were intending to, up from 76 per cent in December.

Four out of five Australians have either had a Covid booster shot or are planning to, according to federal government research. Picture: David Crosling

The strong support for the third dose comes as the Andrews government weighs up whether to extend its existing two-jab mandate – for Victorians to visit pubs, restaurants and major events – to include boosters.

According to the federal survey, 83 per cent of Australians knew when they were due for the booster shot, while 80 per cent were aware it would increase their protection against infection, severe disease and death.

But Herald Sun can also reveal 10 per cent of parents with children aged five to 11 do not plan to take them for the jab, while 15 per cent remain unsure if they should be vaccinated.

The federal government’s monthly community sentiment monitor found 52 per cent of Australians were concerned about the Covid-19 situation in January – the highest level since the survey started in September 2020, and up from 35 per cent before Christmas.

Last week, national cabinet received the expert immunisation panel’s advice on booster shots, which recommended they were required within six months of the second jab to maintain up-to-date vaccination status.

While Daniel Andrews has repeatedly suggested the panel’s advice would be used to mandate the third jab in Victoria’s vaccinated economy, Health Minister Martin Foley refused to reveal the government’s plans on Friday, saying he was in discussions with health officials.

“We need to make sure that all our decisions are evidence-based … and, at the same time, make sure that we achieve our goal of the highest levels of vaccinations,” he said.

The national cabinet also agreed it was time for the commonwealth, states and territories to move to the final phase of the national Covid reopening plan, with no “ongoing restrictions or lockdowns” and the virus managed in the same way as other infectious diseases.

As of Sunday, 50.8 per cent of Victorians aged over 18 had received three Covid vaccine doses, 93.7 per cent of Victorians aged over 12 had received two doses and 52.2 per cent of Victorian kids aged five to 11 had received one dose.