South Burnett, Cherbourg council areas among lowest in state for Covid-19 vaccination uptake

Alarming figures reveal two regional councils have some of the lowest vaccination rates in the whole of Queensland, with one having less than 5 per cent of eligible residents double vaccinated.

Residents in the South Burnett and Cherbourg local government areas are seemingly resisting the push to get vaccinated against Covid, with alarming stats showing the rate of vaccinated residents to be among the worst in the state.

Data shows the South Burnett has a double-dose vaccination rate of just 20.9 per cent, and the Cherbourg township is sitting an even lower rate of only 4.5 per cent.

The Cherbourg region has the lowest rate of vaccination for both first and second doses in the state, and only four other local government areas have lower second dosage rates than the South Burnett.

Darling Downs Health, which manages both LGAs, was unable to answer questions on why the vaccination rates were so low.

A Darling Downs Health spokesman said the service had provided vaccination clinics in Kingaroy, Cherbourg and Murgon.

The Cherbourg pop-up vaccine clinic kicked off its second round of vaccinations on Monday, following its first three-day clinic in August.

The health spokesman said the service was working with the community to increase uptake rates.

“We work closely with indigenous communities and Aboriginal Controlled Health Services to provide collaborative, community-led activities to enhance access to the vaccine and increase vaccination rates,” the spokesman said.

Before the clinic public health physician Dr Katie Panaretto held a Q&A session for residents, aimed at allaying residents’ concerns about the jab.

“There is a lot of information about the COVID-19 vaccination in the community and it can be hard separating facts from myths,” Dr Panaretto said.

The low rates of vaccination uptake have been brought into sharp relief, after a Kingaroy-based pilot tested positive to Covid-19 in Melbourne, after travelling to Brisbane from the region, before flying to Hong Kong.

While Queensland Health said there was low risk to the community from the case, Member for Nanango Deb Frecklington said it was an important reminder for the region to get vaccinated as soon as possible.

“I encourage everyone to get vaccinated, and get tested if they have symptoms,” Ms Frecklington said.

“It’s imperative that our community use any vaccination centres available – so please register and get it done.”

Originally published as South Burnett, Cherbourg council areas among lowest in state for Covid-19 vaccination uptake