Far North residents rush to get vaccinated as restrictions begin December 17

The city’s main vaccination hub has experienced a mad rush as residents get 11th-hour jabs before new Covid restrictions kick in on Friday.

THE city’s main vaccination hub has experienced a mad rush as residents dash in to get their 11th hour jabs before new Covid restrictions kick in on Friday.

Reports of a hectic start to the week at the Cairns Convention Centre coincided with the city passing the 80 per cent double vaccination mark.

According to the Australian Government Operation Covid Shield website, in Cairns 90.4 per cent of residents have received their first vaccination and 81.8 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Cairns residents lead the way by rolling up their sleeves, compared to nearby towns such as Mareeba which has recorded 79.1 per cent and 69.1 per cent, Douglas which is sitting on 87.9 per cent and 80.7 per cent respectively.

The mass vaccination hub set up in the Cairns Convention Centre. Picture: Brendan Radke

Meanwhile, only 68.2 per cent of Yarrabah residents have had their first jab and 52.6 per cent are fully vaccinated.

Wuchopperen Health Service acting deputy chief executive officer Rachael Ham said while their community elders have got the message – and the jab – the younger members needed to roll up their sleeves.

“State-wide data is telling us that over 86 per cent of our clients aged 70 years and over are fully vaccinated – and we’re so happy about that,” she said.

12 year old twins Shiloh and Sienna Nakachi of Kanimbla took the opportunity to get vaccinated against the Covid-19 coronavirus at the mass vaccination hub set up in the Cairns Convention Centre. Picture: Brendan Radke

“But it’s our younger mob that we’re now worried about, they’re not getting the message; not only that they can get Covid and it can make them very sick – but that from this Friday 17 December, if they are not vaccinated their movements are about to become very restricted.”

Restrictions will begin on December on Friday for people that are not vaccinated including not being able to attend hospitality venues. indoor entertainment venues and festivals.

Ms Hams said the WHS community vaccine events have seen over 300 people jabbed in a day st pop up clinics in parks, extended its vaccination clinic opening hours and is now offering home jabbing visits to clients that can’t get into the clinics.

FIFO worker Ric Allen, of Gordonvale, got his booster jab at the Convention Centre before watching his daughter Jessica Allen graduate with a Bachelor of Psychological Sciences from James Cook University. Picture: Brendan Radke

Meanwhile, a patient who tested positive for the Omicron variant of Covid remains in Cairns Hospital in a stable condition.

A new exposure site was also added on Tuesday. Passengers seated in rows 23,24,25, 26 and 27 on Jetstar Flight JQ967 from Melbourne to Cairns on Friday, December 10, from 5.29 to 8.43am were considered as close contacts while everyone else on the plane is listed as a casual contact.

Originally published as Far North residents rush to get vaccinated as restrictions begin December 17