Covid-19: Scott Morrison asks those who can get vaccinated to do so

Prime Minister Scott Morrison has asked every Australian who is eligible for a Covid-19 vaccine to get one as more of us roll up our sleeves.

The Prime Minister has delivered an impassioned plea for every eligible Aussie to step up and get their vaccination as the country enters a critical point in its escalating battle against Covid-19.

Scott Morrison said the nation currently stood at a “Team Australia moment”, signalling a new urgency in the vaccine blitz with the outbreak in Victoria threatening an extended lockdown in Melbourne.

“This is a Team Australia moment, where everyone can make a real difference,” Mr Morrison said.

“In the past week alone, more than 670,000 Australians rolled up their sleeves. More and more every day.

“If you are eligible, please do not wait.”

Amy Yarrow, 18, getting her second Covid-19 vaccination at Sydney Olympic Park. Picture: Jonathan Ng

Crowds outside the vaccination centre. Picture: John Grainger

Mr Morrison’s urgings came after the government came under fire in question time for past assertions that the vaccine rollout was “not a race”, as well as confusion over how many aged care workers had been vaccinated.

But new figures out of NSW reveal that almost a quarter of a million NSW residents aged between 40 and 49 registered interest in receiving the vaccine.

Premier Gladys Berejik­lian is also set to receive her second AstraZeneca dose today in another public show of confidence in the vaccine.

“Having our population vaccinated as quickly and as safely as possible is key to us reaching a Covid-normal state,” she said.

“When the world starts opening up, we literally can’t afford to be left behind.”

Aged care worker Rafaella Vicentin was vaccinated on Tuesday. Picture: Jonathan Ng

As of Monday night, more than 4.3 million Australians had received at least one jab, an increase of 119,139 from the day before.

At the Homebush vaccination centre, 22-year-old Rafaella Vicentin was among the locals who had lined up to get their vaccine.

“I look after an elderly gentleman as a nurse in Marrickville so to have it gives me peace of mind while looking after him.”

“Everyone should get the vaccine I think.”

98-year-old Jack Weller gets vaccinated on Tuesday. Picture: Toby Zerna

Others, like 98-year-old Jack Weller, were similarly enthusiastic about rolling up their sleeve out at Castle Hill Medical Centre. “Being 98 everyone was looking out for me, but I was completely fine,” he said.

Infectious diseases expert Dr Clay Golledge said that Australia needed to ramp up the speed of their vaccination, because as the UK showed, the higher the coverage, the better the ­results. With around more than half the UK having had at least one vaccination and 25 million Britons having had both their first and second jabs, infections have fallen to around 3000 per day.

Originally published as Covid-19: Scott Morrison asks those who can get vaccinated to do so