Jeremy Rockliff,Minister for Health
Thank you to the many Tasmanians who have rolled up their sleeves and had their COVID-19 jab – we now have 86.6 per cent of over 16-year-olds with a first dose and 71.6 per cent fully vaccinated.
Yesterday, we hit another major milestone, with over 50 per cent of 12 to 15-year-olds having received a first dose.
And in the past few days, we passed the major milestone of 70 per cent fully vaccinated, which is down to the commitment of Tasmanians and the tireless efforts of our nurses, pharmacists, doctors, administration staff and volunteers.
If Tasmanians continue to come forward for vaccination, I'm confident we can reach 90 per cent of those aged 16 and over with at least one dose within the next two weeks.
That will be a major accomplishment in our path to reopening our borders from 15 December to interstate and international arrivals who are fully vaccinated and return a negative COVID test.
Vaccination remains our greatest defence against coronavirus, and I am again encouraging every eligible Tasmanian to book an appointment if you haven't already – to protect yourself, your loved ones and the community.
We are starting to achieve strong coverage in all age groups and in all parts of the State, however, rates are still lagging in some parts of the North and North-West.
When our borders open in December, we will see cases of coronavirus, and it will be a pandemic of the unvaccinated.
To those in the North and North-West who haven't yet done so, please do not wait any longer to get vaccinated.
You can now walk in and get vaccinated at any state-run community clinic without booking – you can still book to avoid waiting, but it is not a requirement. There are state-run walk-in clinics across Northern Tasmania in the next few weeks, including at Scottsdale (starting today), Sheffield, Wynyard, Latrobe, Burnie, Ulverstone, Devonport, and two locations in Launceston.
For times and locations of those clinics, go to www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au.
The vaccination bus service has had a great start, vaccinating hundreds of Tasmanians in some of the North's most rural and remote communities.
The buses will hit the road again this week, visiting Mole Creek, Edith Creek, Irishtown, Sassafras, Redpa and Railton. This is a walk-in service – you just need to turn up and you will be vaccinated.
Vaccination teams will also be visiting some of Tasmania's remote northern high schools this week for students aged 12 and over, and school staff.
Over the next two weeks, the program will visit high schools in Cressy, St Helens, St Marys, Deloraine, Penguin, Port Dalrymple, Brooks, Parklands and Smithton.
Everyone aged 12 and over can get the jab at a GP, pharmacy, state-run clinic, or onboard the vaccination buses, and I'd encourage those who have not yet done so to join the hundreds of thousands of Tasmanians by getting vaccinated. Don't wait. Vaccinate.
