Australia is on the cusp of reaching a major national coronavirus vaccine coverage milestone on the path to reopening.

The 70 per cent target for people aged 16 and over could be reached on Wednesday, as more travel and social restrictions begin to ease.

More than 85 per cent of over-16s have received a first jab, leaving about three million people yet to roll up their sleeves.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia had overtaken the United States in population-wide immunisation coverage.

“We are on track now to ensure that we have one of the world’s highest vaccination rates,” he told parliament.

While the rollout is now surging ahead, the nation remains well behind other developed nations with higher death rates on reopening.

“Sometimes you have to go through a bit of political pain to get it done and get the right outcome,” Mr Morrison told colleagues in Canberra.

NSW and the ACT continue to lead the nation on double-dose vaccination rates with almost 82 per cent in both jurisdictions.

Tasmania is on the verge of hitting 70 per cent, while Victoria is at 68 per cent with Melbourne’s lockdown ending on Friday.

South Australia and the NT are almost at 60 per cent, ahead of Queensland (57.5 per cent) and WA (56.5 per cent).

Queensland has announced a plan to reopen its borders to states and territories – NSW, Victoria and the ACT – without requiring fully vaccinated arrivals to quarantine from December 17.

But hardline WA Premier Mark McGowan has again ruled out allowing interstate travel from those areas before Christmas.

South Australia hasn’t confirmed when borders will reopen but Premier Steven Marshall wants to ease restrictions before Christmas.

Tasmania is holding fire on borders until 90 per cent double-dose coverage is reached on the island.

Victoria recorded 1749 new local cases and 11 deaths on Tuesday.

NSW had 273 new local infections and four deaths, while Canberra registered 24 cases.

In Victoria, 784 coronavirus patients are in hospital with 149 in intensive care including 100 needing a ventilator.

Just four per cent of people with the disease in the state’s ICU wards are fully vaccinated.

Hospitalisations fell in NSW to 589 people, with 128 in intensive care and 69 on ventilators.

Australia has recorded 1558 coronavirus deaths during the pandemic.

By Matt Coughlan in Canberra, AAP

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