Lockyer Valley’s low jab rates a cause for concern as Covid looms

Find out which Local Government Area on Toowoomba’s back doorstep is among one of the least vaccinated regions in the state as Queensland preparers for more Covid cases.

JAB COUNT: New data has revealed nearly half of Australia’s most Covid-exposed council areas are in Queensland with a list of Local Government Areas and their vaccination rates released in a bid to encourage people to go out and get the jab before an “inevitable” Delta outbreak. Picture: Rae Wilson

Less than 15 minutes from Toowoomba’s CBD is one of Queensland’s most susceptible communities to a Covid outbreak, according to the latest vaccination data.

The Lockyer Valley region is the eighth least fully vaccinated area in all of Queensland, with fewer than one in four people having received double doses.

New data has revealed nearly half of Australia’s most Covid-exposed council areas are in Queensland with a list of Local Government Areas and their vaccination rates released in a bid to encourage people to go out and get the jab before an “inevitable” Delta outbreak.

The Darling Downs is a mixed bag for vaccination rates with 55 per cent of Goondiwindi locals vaccinated – the most in the Sunshine State – however the South Burnett trails behind with fewer than 25 per cent with both jabs.

Meanwhile, the Aboriginal community of Cherbourg is ranked last in Queensland, and is among the bottom five nationally with just 19.7 per cent of the population aged 15 and up receiving least one jab.

Health Emergency Operations Centre Executive Lead of Darling Downs Health, Annette Scott said more than 54 per cent of eligible people aged 16 and over had received at least one dose of COVID-19 vaccine across Darling Downs Health region.

“Our vaccination clinic at the Baillie Henderson Hospital campus remains solidly booked with consistent demand for appointments,” she said.

“We continue to provide vaccinations to a number of priority groups, such as healthcare workers, and those needing a second dose.”

Ms Scott said since May this year DDH had also provided Covid-19 vaccination clinics in the Southern Downs, South Burnett and Western Downs.

“This week there is a clinic in Cherbourg providing both first and second doses of the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine and we are planning to provide more in other rural locations,” she said.

“We encourage everyone to keep an eye on their local media outlets and the Darling Downs Health Facebook page to keep up to date.”

Ms Scott said the best way to get a vaccination as soon as possible was to pre-register online here.

“We appreciate the community’s patience as we work towards providing Covid-19 vaccinations across our health service in conjunction with GPs, respiratory clinics, and pharmacies,” she said.