Editorial: Vaccination vital as Qld faces viral winter storm

Queensland’s vaccination rate became a source of pride during the depths of the Covid-19 pandemic. Now it is an afterthought, writes the editor.

Staff of Australian vaccine maker CSL in the lab

The days of pandemic lockdowns in this state are thankfully over, but the trade-off is we all have to do our part to keep each other healthy and safe.

A new Covid-19 strain, which early reports indicate could be the most contagious yet, has put the spotlight on Queensland’s less-than-impressive vaccination rates for the virus.

Fewer than 250,000 Queenslanders have received their free Covid-19 booster this year, while in NSW and Victoria 374,000 and 333,000 have received theirs respectively.

Infectious diseases expert Professor Paul Griffin says this is the lowest rate in Queensland since Covid vaccines were introduced five years ago.

Queensland’s vaccination rate became a source of pride during the depths of the Covid-19 pandemic. Now, it is an afterthought, and it could come back to bite us.

Getting Queenslanders vaccinated needs to be become a firm focus again as the state faces a tidal wave of Covid-19 and flu cases.

At the start of this week, 54 Queenslanders were in hospital with Covid-19, 58 with the flu and a further 40 with respiratory syncytial virus.

More than 670 Covid-19 cases have been reported in the past week – a sharp jump from the 428 cases in the week ending April 28.

The new Covid strain NB. 1. 8. 1 is being monitored by the World Health Organisation due to its growing spread as it appears to be more contagious than ever.

By the end of April, it was the dominant strain in Hong Kong and China and it now has health workers in the US very worried as more cases emerge there. Almost 40 cases of the new strain have been detected in Queensland since February 22.

Queenslanders don’t need to be alarmed – the wonderful thing about this state is both Covid and flu vaccines are free.

They’re available at most pharmacies and GP clinics.

And the two jabs are safe to get at the same time.

It has really never been easier to protect yourself and your loved ones from these two potentially deadly respiratory diseases.

Yet vaccine hesitancy still prevails.

The harsh fact is, people are still dying from Covid-19.

The latest statistics available show that in January alone this year, 159 Australians who had Covid-19 died.

Almost 5000 Australians died with Covid-19 last year, compared to 1002 with the flu.

Yet flu vaccination rates continue to outstrip those getting Covid immunisations.

More than one million Queenslanders have had their flu jab, compared with less than 250,000 who have rolled up their sleeves for their Covid-19 boosters.

As Dr Griffin says, we need to start treating the Covid-19 booster as seriously as we do the flu shot, ensuring we get it every year as winter approaches.

The chances of this state ever being put into a pandemic lockdown again are slim to none.

There’s no appetite for it politically, and Queenslanders feel they should be trusted to do the right thing without being strongarmed with mandates.

But we actually need to do the right thing then – and that is getting vaccinated.

RIDING OUT TRUMP

When US President Donald Trump introduced sweeping tariffs on every country in the world (and a couple of uninhabited Australian Antarctic territories) markets crashed around the globe.

Trillions of dollars held in investments disappeared overnight, and Aussies who – against all the good advice – checked their superannuation balances saw their retirement plans becoming more austere by the day.

Cooler and wiser heads, of course, advised caution, pointing out that paper losses only become real losses if you cash in while the market is low.

So what happened? Many tariffs were walked back by Mr Trump. Australia was hit with a relatively modest 10 per cent impost. The deals that Mr Trump promised failed to eventuate, as the markets rebounded and the paper losses were recovered.

And, as we report today, a US Federal Court has declared the tariffs an overreach of the President’s authority and ordered them to be wound back within 10 days. This doesn’t mean it’s the end of the Trump rollercoaster, far from it. But what the last few months has proved is that global trade and the world economy is strong and resilient, capable of riding out most storms.

Australian ambassador to the US described recent problems in trade between our two nations as “a bump in the road”. He’s right – but let’s hope the president doesn’t dig any more potholes.

Responsibility for election comment is taken by Chris Jones, corner of Mayne Rd & Campbell St, Bowen Hills, Qld 4006. Printed and published by NEWSQUEENSLAND (ACN 009 661 778). Contact details here

Originally published as Editorial: Vaccination vital as Qld faces viral winter storm