80% by November: Premier’s state vaccination goal
Six premises in Western Australia, including Perth Airport, and one in Victoria have been designated high-risk for people wishing to enter Tasmania. LATEST COVID-19 UPDATES >>
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- Tasmanians over 30 now eligible for Pfizer Covid vaccination
- How many days until Australia hits crucial Covid vaccination targets
Six premises in Western Australia, including Perth Airport, and one in Victoria have been designated high-risk for people wishing to enter Tasmania.
Dr Mark Veitch urged anyone who has entered Tasmania from WA since 20 July to check new exposure sites listed on the government’s travel alert website.
“If you are in Tasmania and were at any of these sites at the listed time and day, please isolate immediately and call the Public Health hotline.”
“People registered to travel to Tasmania in the next three days, who have been in WA in the last 14 days, will not be able to enter Tasmania if they were at any of the high-risk premises at the dates and times listed.
On Wednesday, the WA Premier Mark McGowan confirmed the state had recorded a “very, very weak” positive case in a FIFO worker, believed to have been infectious in the community in Perth.
Victoria has also reported a new case but so far has only listed one exposure site.
80% by November: Premier’s state vaccination goal
TASMANIA is on track to vaccinate more than 80 per cent of the population against Covid-19 well before Christmas, Premier Peter Gutwein says.
The Premier and Tasmanian Vaccination Emergency Operations Centre commander Dale Webster visited central Hobart’s busy vaccination clinic at noon on Wednesday, chatting with staff and the folk waiting for their jabs.
Tasmania’s rollout has been the best in the nation, Mr Gutwein said.
“By the end of business today, more than 50 per cent of Tasmanians will have received their first dose.
“We’re leading the country, Tassie once again is showing them how it’s done.
Federally, the targets of 70 and 80 per cent have been set for the easing of lockdowns and restrictions on travel.
“We should hit 70 per cent sometime in October,” Mr Gutwein said. “I’d hope that around mid- to late- November we’d hit 80 per cent.
“Importantly, people need to continue to turn up. And importantly here in Tasmania, they have been and I think it’s a credit to Dale and his team and everybody who is doing the work.”
Mr Webster said reaching today’s milestone was gratifying, but his focus was on reaching as many people as possible, in which case the further milestones of 70 per cent and 80 per cent figures would not be far off.
“At the rate we are going we will achieve them in the coming weeks, well before Christmas.
“We now have in state clinics 15,000 doses a week, our GP’s also have available also have available 10,000 to 15,000 appointments.
“We’ve got the ability to deliver between 25,000 and 30,000 vaccinations each week across all of the points of presence that we’ve got.”
He said there were still appointments available in August and urged people who were keen to get the vaccine to book in.
“Over the weekend, for instance, we opened up 10,000 appointments about five o’clock on Friday night, 2000 of those were gone by lunchtime Sunday.”
Mr Webster said the success of the program down to the willingness of the public of be vaccinated, the hard work of the vaccination workforce, and the dispersal of clinics throughout the community.
Appointments can be made by calling the Public Health Hotline 1800 671 738, or online at www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/vaccination-information/covid-19-vaccination/Book-your-vaccine
Jab rates lag in Tassie region where virus broke out
TASMANIA’S North West may have been the epicentre of this State’s Covid-19 emergency in 2020 but vaccination rates in the region are lagging compared to Hobart and Launceston.
While Tasmania as a whole is leading the nation for the uptake of jabs and Hobart is Australia’s most vaccinated capital with 50.8 per cent of people aged over 15 having received one dose and over 25 per cent being fully vaccinated.
But the North West is lagging with just 21.8 per cent of people aged over 15 having been fully vaccinated.
An outbreak of Covid-19 linked to the region’s major hospital - where patients who had been on the Ruby Princess - saw the army move in, more than 5000 health workers and their families quarantined, patients moved out of the North West Regional Hospital and the facility subject to deep cleaning.
Federal Labor has called on the federal government to roll up its sleeves in the race to vaccinate the nation and provide a one-off $300 payment to every fully-vaccinated Australian.
Tasmanian Senator Anne Urquhart said the payment would be a further incentive for Tasmanians to be fully vaccinated and help those businesses, workers and families struggling from lockdowns.
“Vaccinations are a race Australians can no longer afford to lose,” Senator Urquhart said.
“Tasmania’s health system is in such a sorry state it would never cope with a Delta strain outbreak.
“The Morrison Government must make vaccines easily accessible to North West and West Coast residents to meet its target to vaccinate 80 per cent of adults.”
Braddon candidate Chris Lynch said business in the electorate were struggling with one on
permanent hold until regular flights to the North West were re-established.
Tasmanians urged to get vaxxed amid Delta outbreaks
TASMANIA is leading the nation for the uptake of Covid jabs — with most adults having had at least one shot, the latest federal government vaccination data shows.
Hobart is Australia’s most vaccinated capital and the first to reach a majority, with 50.8 per cent of those aged 15 and over having received one dose and 25.3 per cent fully vaccinated.
Launceston is sitting on 50.1 per cent single dose and 27 per cent full vaccinated.
Sydney is 46 per cent and 17.9 per cent, and inner Melbourne 37 per cent and 19.7 per cent.
The state government has opened a new high-capacity vaccination hub in the state’s north as part of a push to protect as many Tasmanians as quickly as possible.
The new high-capacity Pfizer vaccination clinic opens in Launceston today and is capable of vaccinating 400 people a day.
Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff urged those eligible to make a booking online or on the phone.
All Tasmanians over the age of 30 are now eligible for the Pfizer vaccine.
It is recommended for all those aged 30-59 years, pregnant women, people aged 16-29 years who are living with an underlying medical conditions; living with or caring for someone with a disability; Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander people; critical or high-risk workers; household contacts of quarantine and border workers; temporary visa holders who are in Australia and have been approved for return travel to Australia through the travel exemption process.
The AstraZeneca vaccine is recommended for people aged 60 years and older and those in other age groups who have received their first does.
“Eligible Tasmanians aged 30 to 59 who have not yet been vaccinated with a first dose are urged to book in for their Pfizer vaccine,” Mr Rockliff said.
“If anyone in this age group has had an AstraZeneca first dose, please make sure you get your second jab of AstraZeneca for maximum protection.”
The clinic is open 9am to 5pm at the Door of Hope Christian Church building, 50 Glen Dhu Street, South Launceston.
“Our aim is to get as many Tasmanians vaccinated as soon as possible, and there is no end date for this new clinic at this stage,” Mr Rockliff said.
“Outbreaks of the highly contagious Delta strain in mainland states further underlines the need for Tasmanians to get vaccinated.”
A number of general practices are offering the COVID-19 vaccine and there are Australian Government-funded GP respiratory clinics located in Hobart, Launceston and St Helens offering the vaccine for free to eligible people.
Check your eligibility at www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au
Make your appointment via the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738 or via www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/vaccination-information/covid-19-vaccination/Book-your-vaccine
Where to get vaccinated
High capacity clinics:
Hobart City Vaccination Centre
72 Elizabeth Street, Hobart
Wednesday to Saturday 21 July to 19 September 9am to 4pm
Clinic delivering dose 2 when scheduled from 11 August
Moonah: 29 Charles Street, Moonah (Your Church building)
Tuesday to Saturday until 18 September
Wednesday, Friday and Saturdays, 9am to 5pm; Thursdays 12 noon to 8pm
Clinic delivering dose 2 from 1 July
Hobart: Wellington Clinic, Level 10, 42 Argyle Street, Hobart
Royal Hobart Hospital, 48 Liverpool Street, Hobart
Saturday and Sunday 9am to 5pm; Weekdays 9am to 5pm
Clinic delivering dose 2 when scheduled
South Launceston: 50 Glen Dhu Street, South Launceston (Door of Hope building)
From 3 August, Clinic delivering dose 2 from 24 August
Burnie: Burnie Surf Life Saving Club, 2 North Terrace, Burnie
Sunday, Monday, and Tuesday until 10 August
9am to 3:45pm
Clinic delivering dose 2 from 11 July
Community clinics:
Bruny Island
Community Health Centre: 16 School Rd, Alonnah
25 August, 10am to 6pm and 26 August 9am to 5pm
For permanent residents over 16 years old
Clinic delivering dose 2 on 15 & 16 September
Devonport Vaccination Centre, Devonport Surf Life Saving Club, 41 Bluff Road, Devonport
4 to 20 August and 14 August – Saturday clinic 9am to 4pm
Clinic delivering dose 2 from 25 August
Huonville: 8 Heron Street, Huonville
Friday 16 July (dose 2) Clinic delivering dose 2 only
Invermay: Gate 2, UTAS Stadium, 6A Invermay Road, Invermay 23 July (dose 2)
Clinic delivering dose 2 only
Kingston: Kingborough Community Hub, Goshawk Way, Kingston 16 and 17 August
Clinic delivering dose 2 on 4 & 18 August, 6 & 7 September
Launceston: Launceston General Hospital 274-280 Charles Street, Launceston
Weekdays and weekends Dose 2 when scheduled
Ulverstone: Ulverstone Rowing Club, Kings Parade, Ulverstone
28 July to September. Clinic delivering dose 2 from 18 August
Additional Support Clinic – North: 330 Invermay Road, Mowbray
Monday to Thursday 29 July to 18 August (dose 2)
Clinic providing extra support for: people living with disability and mental illness, NDIS recipients and carers and disability support workers
Clinic delivering dose 2 only from 29 July
Additional Support Clinic – South: Blundstone Arena, 15 Derwent Street, Bellerive
Monday to Thursday
27 July to 18 August (dose 2)
Clinic providing extra support for: people living with disability and mental illness, NDIS recipients and carers and disability support workers
Clinic delivering dose 2 only from 27 July
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