Geelong maintains lead in Victorian vaccination race

Geelong is in a tight battle with Victorian regions to reach the milestone of 50 per cent of eligible people fully vaccinated against Covid. Here’s where we stand.

Geelong has maintained its lead in the Covid vaccination race in Victoria.

New federal government data shows in the Geelong region 47.7 per cent of people aged 15 and up were fully vaccinated as of Sunday, up from 43.2 per cent a week prior.

It was the highest percentage of fully vaccinated people 15 and over across Victoria, ahead of Bendigo at 47.2 per cent.

As of Sunday, 71.3 per cent of people aged 15 and over in the Geelong region had at least one dose, up from 66.3 per cent a week before.

The only other area in Victoria that had also surpassed 70 per cent as of Sunday was Warrnambool and south west, which hit 71.7 per cent.

Premier Daniel Andrews has indicated hitting 70 per cent of Victorians with at least one dose will influence easing restrictions.

However, regional Victoria is expected to have an earlier lockdown reprieve.

Vaccination Hub pix

Health Minister Martin Foley on Monday confirmed there were still plans for an easing of restrictions for regional Victoria, with the likely exception of Shepparton.

Under national plans, full scale reopening will take place when the community is

80 per cent double-dosed.

Victoria reported 246 new locally acquired cases on Monday, including a second case identified from a Hamlyn Heights home over the weekend.

Of the new cases, 121 had been linked to known cases and outbreaks.

Mr Foley described the latest Covid-19 outbreak as a “pandemic of the unvaccinated” and an overwhelming number of people in hospital in Victoria had not been jabbed.

“This current outbreak is targeting the unvaccinated because that’s where the virus will go,” he said.

“Our best way in which to protect ourselves, our family, our community and to get to the other side of this is to get vaccinated.”

Meanwhile, the State Government announced new grants for Victorians struggling to pay their rent because of lockdowns.

Victorian renters will be offered government grants of up to $1500, paid directly to landlords on their behalf.

Housing Minister Richard Wynne said the one-off payment was specifically for renters paying more than 30 per cent of their income in rent and targeted at those who had lost 20 per cent or more of their income.

“A targeted initiative that is actually going to make a significant difference to people’s lives because we absolutely understand just how critical it is that particularly those who are vulnerable have safe, affordable and secure housing in the private rental market,” he said.

Mr Wynne also announced an extension of a program designed to support people out of homelessness.

– with Herald Sun

Originally published as Geelong maintains lead in Victorian vaccination race