Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announces two new local Covid cases in Queensland

Queensland has recorded two new local Covid cases, including an unvaccinated 17-year-old on the Gold Coast linked to linked to a worrying new cluster at Tweed Heads.

Queensland has recorded two new locally-acquired Covid cases, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has announced this morning.

One is an unvaccinated 17-year-old who lives on the Gold Coast while the other is a woman from Melbourne aged in her 30s who was in home quarantine.

A Gympie truck driver who visited Bundaberg has also tested positive in NSW.

It’s understood the 17-year-old is linked to a worrying new family cluster at Tweed Heads.

Two cases were reported in Tweed Shire last week after a man who attended Tweed Heads Hospital for treatment for another condition displayed Covid symptoms, including coughing, and tested positive.

Hospital staff who had contact with the man had to go into quarantine.

The other Tweed case was believed to be a relative.

Both were taken to Lismore Base Hospital, where all northern NSW Covid patients are treated.

Ms Palaszczuk said the woman from Melbourne was considered low risk.

Ms Palaszczuk said just one case could cause a “massive outbreak”.

“Because of the time it takes between doses, Queenslanders have just five days to get vaccinated,” she said.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk.

Just over 60 per cent of Queenslanders are now fully vaccinated.

New exposure sites will be published later with everyone urged to monitor Queensland Health’s website.

More than 8,700 tests were undertaken on Monday while 12,769 vaccines were administered by Queensland Health.

Meanwhile, the Moderna Covid-19 jab is providing children aged 6 to 11 with strong protection against the virus early data shows.

The pharmaceutical company, releasing interim data on Monday, said the vaccine generated antibodies 1.5 times as high in children as what had been seen in adults.

Moderna chief executive Stephane Bancel said the company was “encouraged” by the immune response and safety profile of the young cohort that had received the jab.

“We look forward to filing with regulators globally and remain committed to doing our part to help end the COVID-19 pandemic with a vaccine for adults and children of all ages,” she said.

A total of 4753 children aged 6 to 11 were enrolled in the trial, with a majority of side effects reported as mild or moderate — like fatigue, headache, fever, and soreness at the injection site.

The Modern Covid-19 vaccine is providing children with strong protection against the virus. Picture: Joseph Prezioso

Moderna is also testing its vaccine in children aged six months to less than two years, and two years to less than six years.

Moderna is the second company, behind Pfizer, to release safety data of its vaccine for use in children under 12.

Pfizer is due to meet with US authorities this week to discuss administering the jab in kids aged five to 11.

As of last week the pharmaceutical giant had yet to lodge application documents with Australian authorities.

Originally published as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announces two new local Covid cases in Queensland