The ACT is set to reach the milestone of 90 per cent of its eligible residents being fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by the end of the month, as Canberra nears the end of its lockdown.
ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr said Canberra was on track to be one of the most vaccinated cities in the world, as the government’s largest vaccination clinic expanded to include walk-up appointments.
It comes as Canberra reported 32 new cases on Monday, with 25 of those linked to known cases.
There were 11 cases in quarantine for all of their infectious period, with nine spending time in the community.
There are 18 people in hospital, seven of which are in intensive care and six of those on ventilators.
As the ACT heads towards the end of its lockdown on Friday, Mr Barr said there would be a renewed focus during the next four days to distribute first doses to the remaining unvaccinated sections of the population.
The government’s mass-vaccine clinic at the Australian Institute of Sport will take walk-up appointments, while further pop-up clinics will also be established.
“The next four days are about those remaining first doses, and with the interval of three or four weeks we’re looking forward to see the fully vaccinated figures match the first-dose figures,” Mr Barr said.
“What this means is Canberra will be among the most vaccinated places in the world, and this is just so critical to our economic recovery and to protect Canberrans as we emerge from lockdown.”
The ACT on Monday became the first jurisdiction to pass more than 70 per cent double-dose vaccination for people aged 12 and over, with 98 per cent having had a first dose.
There are 455 active cases in the territory with 773 people having recovered since the outbreak started.
Mr Barr said the ACT’s vaccination rates had defied expectations.
“No one believed that we would get here,” he said.
“We should be ambitious about the national vaccination program, but none of the modelling was based on 90, 95 or 99 per cent coverage, but would much rather be there than at 70 per cent.”
While NSW has ended its lockdown and eased restrictions, Canberrans are barred from travelling over the border to go shopping or go the pub.
Canberra will end lockdown on Friday, before a further easing of restrictions on October 29.
Travel restrictions into areas of NSW from the ACT are expected to be eased further from December.
AAP
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