Australia is poised to reach the target of 80 per cent of the national population over 16 being fully vaccinated later on Friday.
The latest figures released on Thursday put the national COVID-19 jab rate at 79.6 per cent.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison describes the pending milestone as a breakthrough, as states across the country move to reopen their borders.
“That means we overcame all the challenges that we had with supplies that didn’t show up from Europe and things like that,” Mr Morrison told reporters in Sydney on Friday.
“We’ve pushed through and got it sorted.”
It comes as Western Australian Premier Mark McGowan revealed long-awaited plans to reopen the state to eastern jurisdictions after months of hard border policies.
The border with WA will reopen when the state hits 90 per cent of the eligible population being fully vaccinated, with the rate currently sitting at 64.9 per cent.
Mr McGowan said the 90 per cent target was expected to be reached in late January or early February.
Meanwhile, NSW and Victoria reopened its borders for free travel between the states on Friday.
The prime minister said it was imperative all jurisdictions be able to reach higher vaccination targets, particularly Queensland and WA, which have had a slower uptake.
“The real task is to get those vaccination rates to those same levels we’re seeing in other states,” Mr Morrison said.
“Those numbers are lifting, they obviously haven’t moved as quickly as they have in NSW and Victoria and the ACT.”
The comments were made before Friday’s national cabinet meeting, the first meeting of the prime minister and state and territory leaders in more than a month.
Boosted hospital funding and a review of quarantine and border arrangements will be on the agenda.
Meanwhile, Victoria and NSW are expected to use national cabinet to seek an update on the timeline for vaccinating children aged between five and 11.
Australia’s medicines regulator is still reviewing Pfizer’s data about vaccinating younger children.
The prime minister said block funding from the Commonwealth for states and territory health systems would be extended until the end of the year.
Mr Morrison said the previous worst-case scenarios on COVID surges in hospitals as states reopened had not been realised.
“We’re prepared for the worst and we’re thankful for what is one of the best results we’re seeing,” he said.
“We have put in place the plans to deal with the surges here in NSW and Victoria.
“That, I think, gives a lot of confidence to Queensland, where there hasn’t been the big number of cases for them to deal with, and in WA.”
NSW recorded 249 new cases of COVID-19 in its most recent reporting period on Friday, along with three deaths.
In Victoria, 1343 infections were reported, along with 10 virus-related deaths.
The ACT recorded six new cases and one new death.
Katherine in the Northern Territory will enter a three-day lockdown after the town recorded its first case of community transmission.
AAP
Get all the latest Canberra news, sport, entertainment, lifestyle, competitions and more delivered straight to your inbox with the Canberra Daily Daily Newsletter. Sign up here.
