Annastacia Palaszczuk, Jeannette Young have not received COVID-19 vaccine
Annastacia Palaszczuk has been slammed for not being vaccinated against COVID-19 after it was revealed how many Queenslanders didn’t want the jab.
The Queensland Premier and chief health officer have been slammed for not “leading by example” after a survey revealed more than 40 per cent of Queenslanders were “unlikely” to get the COVID-19 vaccine.
Annastacia Palaszczuk confirmed on Thursday that she and Dr Jeannette Young had not yet received their jabs, saying the pair were due to get their flu shot first and then would wait the required two weeks before they could get their COVID shot.
But Ms Palaszczuk has been met with heavy criticism for the delay, especially considering she is the only Australian premier over the age of 50 who has not received her jab.
Victorian Premier Dan Andrews has not received his vaccine, but under the Australian rollout he is not yet eligible.
Ms Palaszczuk told reporters on Friday that she had spoken to her GP and would get the flu shot before anything else.
When asked if that’s what other Queenslanders should do, Ms Palaszczuk said “a lot of Queenslanders are getting their flu shot first because we’re coming into flu season”.
“After that, I’ll be getting my COVID vaccine,” she said.
“You have to wait a couple of weeks.”
Despite the rollout being in phase 1B, Dr Young still has not received her jab, which Ms Palaszczuk put down to her “waiting her turn, just like everyone else”.
“She’s not in the vulnerable category like other people are. So, she’ll get her vaccine at the appropriate time,” she said.
The stance has been deemed “hypocritical” after Dr Young routinely called for people to “come forward and get vaccinated”.
Federal MP Peter Dutton said he “really didn’t understand” the Queensland Premier’s position.
“I think in a position of leadership it is important, particularly now, to demonstrate that leadership … to make sure you lead by example,” he told Nine’s Today on Friday morning.
“And the Premier and the chief health officer in Queensland have let Queenslanders down and they need to, I think, go out today, roll their sleeve up and make a very public statement about the fact they’ve got the vaccine and encourage other people to do it.”
Some Facebook users accused the Premier of being a case of “do what I say, not as I do”.
“Not a very good example are they?” another wrote.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison was on Friday asked about Dr Young’s decision not to get the Pfizer vaccine.
“She is in phase 1b, I think,” Mr Morrison said.
“I will leave those decisions for her. I’m not making any comment on it.
“I’m encouraging Australians, particularly those aged over 70 to go and get their vaccination.”
National President of the Australian Labor Party, Wayne Swan came to Ms Palaszczuk and Dr Young’s defence, saying the rollout has been “stuffed up”.
“I think the Premier is mindful of not jumping the queue and (wants) to have the flu shot first,” Mr Swan said.
“I don’t quite understand why we’re piling in on the Queensland Premier.”
A recent survey conducted by Queensland Health revealed 40 per cent of Queenslanders were “unlikely” to get the COVID-19 vaccine amid revelations up to a quarter of available doses had not been used.
According to The Australian, those hesitant respondents cited concern about potential side effects, including blood clots, anaphylaxis and headaches.
Ms Palaszczuk has said she believes the hesitancy would subside in the last quarter of the year when Pfizer and Moderna hubs were established.
“When the hubs open up, and that’s exactly what we’re planning at the moment … I think you will see a big uptake of Queenslanders going to those hubs and getting a vaccine,” she said.
Additional reporting by Jade Gailberger.