Covid vaccine Qld: Premier warns window of opportunity will close

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has warned Queenslanders to make the most of this golden opportunity to get vaccinated, as new Pfizer stocks arrive and the state enjoys another day of no locally acquired cases. But time is running out.

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says there is a window of opportunity for Queenslanders to get vaccinated so they will be better prepared for the arrival of the Delta strain.

“We should go out and get vaccinated now because the virus will eventually show up in the community,” the Premier said.

More than 300 GPs are assisting with the vaccine roll-out, with the new Boondall mass-vaccine hub also now available.

“The more people now, better prepared we’ll be when the virus is here,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

The Premier dismissed questions about vaccine hesitancy in the Queensland community.

“I think people do want to get vaccinated, now is the time to roll up sleeves and get vaccinated,” she said.

The Premier also said GPs have a responsibility to let communities know there are vaccines available at their centres.

“It’s up to the GPs to let the community know where they are and that there’s doses available” she said.

More than 800 people attended the walk-in clinic at Logan on Sunday.

“At the moment we are free to move around and get vaccinated, so Queenslanders please stand-up and get vaccinated,” Ms Palaszczuk said.

More vaccine centres are available now, including sites at Rocklea, Logan, Logan TAFE, Caboolture, and there will be a community hub opening on September 11 at Mt Warren Park.

Pallets of vaccines being unloaded off Qantas flight QF110 from Darwin after landing at Kingsford Smith International Airport on September 5. (Photo by James D. Morgan/Getty Images)

The Premier said the state’s vaccine numbers were lower than the national average because of the supply.

She said teachers should go out and get vaccinated as they are a part of the critical frontline workers, along with police, who now have the mandate to get vaccinated.

The Premier dismissed questions that teachers were hesitant to get vaccinated, but if it becomes an issue they will look at addressing it.

The Premier confirmed Queensland Health administered more than 125,000 vaccinations last week, which is a new record for the state.

The Boondall vaccination hub is opening from Wednesday, which the Premier believes will help with easing supply issues in north Brisbane.

Dr Young said the Pfizer vaccine was preferable as the time necessary to wait between doses was considerably less than for AstraZeneca, with just three weeks required between the first and second doeses.

“At the moment it is 12 weeks between your first and second dose of AstraZeneca, and I’m sorry, I don’t want to be confusing, but if we were to have a sustained community outbreak, we would reduce time between first and second doses, but at the moment that isn’t necessary,” she said.

Originally published as Covid vaccine Qld: Premier warns window of opportunity will close