Dr Ian Norton urges eligible Sunshine Coast residents to get the Covid-19 vaccination

A Coast doctor says there will be a silver lining from the Victorian Covid-19 outbreak if it prompts more people to vaccinate against the virus.

Global pandemic expert Dr Ian Norton says not enough Sunshine Coast residents have received the Covid-19 vaccination.

A global pandemic expert on the front lines against Covid-19 says Australia is in a race against time to be vaccinated and hopes the Melbourne cluster will prompt more people to get the jab.

Noosa-based physician Dr Ian Norton of Respond Global urged eligible Sunshine Coast residents to register for the vaccine.

It comes after two cases were recorded in Victoria overnight taking the total number of active cases in the state to 69.

The Victorian Government has extended its lockdown by another week as it tries to control the spread of the "aggressive" virus.

According to Queensland Health's website, 21,000 people have been vaccinated in the Sunshine Coast district, about five per cent of the population.

On May 20, the same data showed 15,800 people had been vaccinated.

Dr Norton said those numbers were "too low" and urged eligible residents to get the jab.

"We really need to get ourselves vaccinated," Dr Norton said.

"The only thing to protect us is the vaccine.

"The only silver lining from the current Victoria outbreak is that it will hopefully be a trigger for people to get vaccinated."

DON'T MISS OUT: Activate your bonus for big rewards

Dr Norton, who was vaccinated at Sunshine Coast University Hospital earlier in 2021, said the process was very efficient.

He hit out at calls from Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt saying vaccination was "not a race".

"We are absolutely in a race to vaccinate as many people as possible, we need to get going," Dr Norton said.

"Being vaccinated can make you immune from future lockdowns, that's a huge incentive and something I've said from the beginning."

Dr Norton stressed that a calm approach was required to tackle the Indian strain of the virus that had spread in Victoria.

He said this Indian variant was more transmissible but not at exponential levels.

 

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath says the Indian Covid-19 variant is of great concern. Picture: Dan Peled

Queensland Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said the virus variant was of "great concern".

"We are hearing unlike what we have seen around the rest of the country with past community transmission," Ms D'Ath said.

"But let's be clear, this is why these restrictions are in place - social distancing, hand hygiene, staying home when you're unwell, the social distancing in venues - it's because we know outdoors at events we can track, we can trace easily."

Queensland will open 18 vaccination hubs across the state this weekend for frontline workers, aged care staff and 40-49 year olds who have registered for the jab.

It's understood one hub will be based on the Sunshine Coast.

Ms D'Ath said the hubs would only be open to the 30,000 people aged between 40 and 49 who have registered to get vaccinated.

Dr Norton backed the decision to introduce vaccination hubs.

Originally published as Dr Ian Norton urges eligible Sunshine Coast residents to get the Covid-19 vaccination