Bold new plans to get Aussies vaccinated by Christmas

Australia’s vaccination rollout coordinator has unveiled a bold new strategy that would see 80 per cent of the country’s residents fully vaccinated against Covid-19 by December

The latest statistics show that 80 per cent of the eligible population could receive both doses by the year’s end, with 70 per cent protected by November.

It comes as the Federal government calls for an elevated level of collaboration and cooperation across the country to increase the speed of the rollout.

Sydney is currently in its sixth week of strict stay-at-home orders – with the state’s premier previously flagging that vaccines may be the only option to bring the Delta variant under control.

It follows the national cabinet meeting to endorse a plan that would see Australia begin to move into a pandemic “consolidation” phase following 80 per cent of the eligible population being vaccinated.

In this phase

• Vaccinated residents would be exempt from any domestic travel restrictions
• There would be no limits on the number of Australian arrivals from abroad
• and restrictions on overseas travel would also be relaxed.

Tuesday’s vaccination briefing flagged a rapid increase in both the delivery and distribution of jabs, with numerous drive-through clinics operating nationwide by mid-October.