Highfields man Peter Cattell with compromised immune system urges Toowoomba residents to mask up, get vaccinated

Highfields man Peter Cattell faces an uncertain future as a wave of Omicron cases sweeps through Queensland. He’s urged Toowoomba residents to mask up and get jabbed to help people like him.

Peter Cattell, pictured with his wife Bonita Cattell, has an immunocompromised condition that means if he contracted Covid the risk of requiring hospitalisation is high. Picture: Kevin Farmer

Peter Cattell can’t see his daughters in Brisbane for Christmas — he can barely leave his Highfields home except for the essentials.

For him, the risk of the Omicron variant is too great.

“I don’t know what the future holds, it just brings up a lot of anxiety,” Mr Cattell said.

The 78-year-old retired lecturer at the University of Southern Queensland, who has a rare condition for which the treatment leaves him with a compromised immune system, is urging people to think of the community’s most vulnerable by getting vaccinated and masking up.

After being diagnosed with an inflammatory condition called MOG antibody disease in May, Mr Cattell started taking a drug that suppresses his immune system — leaving him exposed to other illnesses.

His comments come as Queensland registered nearly 370 new cases on Thursday.

Several cases have been reported on the Darling Downs so far.

Like thousands of other Toowoomba residents in similar situations, the news of more open borders and increased cases of Covid-19 earlier this month has forced Mr Cattell to seriously consider limiting social interaction.

“We were very worried (when December 13 arrived), and we basically said that we’d have to be confined to home once numbers increased,” he said.

“It’s going to be everywhere soon, so I much preferred it when the borders were closed.

“We’ll be even more strict with masks and handwashing.

“At the moment, we’ve only had (a few cases), but we’re already feeling a bit restricted.

“Now that numbers are exploding in Brisbane, we won’t see our two daughters for Christmas.”

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has reintroduced a mask mandate across Queensland, which has been met with opposition from some residents.

Queens Park hosted an anti-vaccine mandate rally on Wednesday, attended by many people.

Mr Cattell, who recently received his booster shot, was told by medical professionals he could still be hospitalised if he caught Covid-19.

He said residents needed to understand why measures like masks and jabs were so important for the immunocompromised, elderly and disabled people in our community.

“People who are opposed to wearing masks should realise it makes their situation far safer,” he said.

“They could feel healthy, but they might have an undiagnosed condition they’re not aware of.

“They should also be aware there are thousands of people in the community whose lives are being put more at risk (by less people wearing masks and getting vaccinated).

“While there thousands in the community who are totally non-vaxxed, it’s always a risk for me.

“You can have quite mild symptoms and still be a carrier.”

Mr Cattell urged all eligible residents to get vaccinated, including a booster shot at the appropriate time.

The Toowoomba region is expected to hit a 90 per cent double vaccination rate before Christmas, with the current mark at 89.2 per cent as of December 19.