“There’s also this perception by a lot of people that have had COVID-19 they don’t perhaps need to get vaccinated or boosted, which we know is not the case, but certainly a widespread perception.”
He said access and better communication from authorities could be improved to lift rates.
Professor Nigel McMillan.
Griffith University infectious diseases professor Nigel McMillan said authorities should consider areas such as Goondiwindi, which previously had high rates for vaccination.
“Goondiwindi had a really high vaccination rate, they led the way in terms of double vaccination rate … but that seemed to be a community-led effort,” he said.
“To me, the most problematic vaccine statistic is 12 per cent double dosed for the five to 15 [age group] – that’s just one of the reasons we’re having this surge now.
“What we’re seeing now in the last week is a doubling in our hospitalisation numbers from a few weeks ago.”
Last week, one in 50 children were testing positive to COVID-19 amid Queensland’s second wave of the Omicron variant of coronavirus, while hospitals, down more than 3200 staff due to the virus, face an influx of COVID-19 cases.
Meanwhile, Queensland Health has called for participants for a COVID-19 vaccine immune response study to better understand their short and long-term effects.
Queensland Health said the study, run by health and university researchers, would include understanding how and why people’s immune systems respond differently to COVID-19 vaccines in a Queensland context.
Brisbane behind on boosters, expert says fatigue to blame
Source: Philippines Alive
