Having sat empty since June last year, the ACT Government is investigating commandeering Bruce’s AIS Arena as a mass vaccination site as they look to expand the local COVID vaccine rollout.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr today said the move to stand up AIS Arena will allow them to open access to the Pfizer vaccination for 16- to 29-year-olds once supply makes it to Canberra.
Mr Barr noted supply is “the crucial bit we are waiting on”.
“The biggest issue we are facing is available Pfizer supply,” he said.
At today’s COVID-19 lockdown press conference, Mr Barr flagged he would raise his concerns about the Commonwealth’s plans to “vaccinate and protect young people from the virus” at this afternoon’s National Cabinet meeting.
“I’m worried about under 16s … but of course I recognise that we do not currently have an approved vaccine for children under 12,” he said.
This morning, Prime Minister Scott Morrison urged his state and territory counterparts to stick with an agreement to lift restrictions when 70 to 80 per cent of people are fully immunised.
“Premiers and chief ministers have signed up to that plan,” Mr Morrison told reporters in Canberra.
“But they haven’t signed up with me, they have signed up with the Australian people. It’s very important that we continue to work that plan.”
The Prime Minister said Treasury and Doherty Institute modelling underpinned the National Cabinet agreement to all but end lockdowns.
“It actually becomes a more costly way of achieving a similar health outcome,” Mr Morrison said.
But Mr Barr said he would also seek clarification at National Cabinet on the Commonwealth’s 70 to 80 per cent vaccination targets for easing restrictions.
According to Mr Barr, the vaccine is not immediately effective once it’s jabbed into your arm, given it takes several weeks to reach effectiveness for both the first and second does.
“So, when we talk about 70 or 80 per cent, we must talk about when the vaccines become effective, not just the moment the jab goes in your arm,” he said.
“Targets are not reached on the day of vaccination, it takes time.”
Currently some 35 per cent of the ACT’s adult population are fully vaccinated.
With that number currently reliant on supply, Mr Barr said he would be striving for a number well in excess of 80 per cent.
“The evidence in terms of the cohorts who have had access to vaccination demonstrates that we’ll shoot well above 80 per cent here,” he said.
“Over 70s are in the mid-90 per cent, so I think it’s reasonable to want to get to that level of vaccination across our entire community.”
With AAP
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