Hundreds at Cairns hub for intensified Covid vaccine push
Opportunity to head interstate when border restrictions come down was strong motivation for hundreds of Far Northerners to join an intensified push to hit a targeted double dose rate.
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OPPORTUNITY to head interstate when the Sunshine State’s border restrictions come down in December was strong motivation for hundreds of Far Northerners at the weekend to join an intensified push to hit a statewide 80 per cent double dose rate.
A steady procession of people trickled into the Cairns Convention Centre clinic at the weekend in what punters described as a quick and easy process.
A pop-up clinic at Cairns Central offered extra convenience for Saturday shoppers.
The mass vaccination hub led in the Far North vaccination stakes on Saturday by administering 478 doses.
A total of 316 people got jabbed at the Smithfield community vax hub, 222 at the Cairns South Health Facility and 18 at the Cairns Airport.
However no vaccinations were recorded at the Mareeba and Innisfail hospitals.
Choosing to pass on the school-based Moderna vaccine roll out 16-year-old St Andrew’s Catholic College student Alana Ramsey said being protected from expected new Cairns cases when borders open to southern travellers was strong motivation to get vaccinated.
“Most of my family is in New South Wales and Victoria, so with getting a vaccine you can go down there, they can come here and it’s safer,” she said.
On Sunday Queensland Deputy Premier Steven Miles announced Far Northern Surf Life Saving clubs would join an intensified push to reach a double-dose target by December 17.
Pop-up clinics will open at 20 surf club locations across the state.
At the convention centre hub, Ms Ramsey’s father, Ken, said he wasn’t worried if businesses chose not to admit unvaccinated people.
“It’s the same as the rule that says you can’t enter a pub without shoes or T-shirt. And in a restaurant you can’t go into these places unless you have the proper attire on,” he said.
“It’s the choice that they have. If you want to frequent that premises you must abide by their rules, it’s that simple.”
The electorate of Hinchinbrook leads the Far North in the vaccination states by recording 67.2 per cent of eligible citizens as being vaccinated – Cairns with 60.1 per cent double jabbed was close behind.
The indigenous community of Yarrabah is falling well behind the state average with a 22.7 per cent two dose vaccination rate.
Queensland recorded no new Covid-19 cases in the community or in quarantine on Sunday.
On Monday the Cairns Airport pop-up vax clinic will be open from 6am to 2pm and Cairns Convention Centre vaccination hub will be open every day this week from 8am to 3.30pm.
Atherton, Mareeba, Mossman and Innisfail hospitals all open on Monday for vaccination at 8.30am.
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Originally published as Hundreds at Cairns hub for intensified Covid vaccine push
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