Peter Gutwein,Premier
We have just over a month now until our borders reopen on December 15, and we know COVID-19 will arrive in Tasmania at some point.
The pandemic isn't over, but science and data from around the world has given us a solution – vaccinations.
Vaccinating is an easy and safe way to protect yourself, your loved ones and the community, and to allow us to open our borders so we can reconnect with family and friends who we haven't seen these past months.
We know vaccinations work – 95 per cent of those hospitalised in the recent NSW outbreak were not fully vaccinated.
While this is not a silver bullet, the reality is, it will mean you have less chance of becoming seriously ill or dying.
We want every eligible Tasmanian over the age of 12 to have had the opportunity to be vaccinated, so they are protected and safe, when we reopen on December 15.
There are now 91 per cent of Tasmanians aged 16 and over who have had at least one dose, and 80.5 per cent who are fully vaccinated. 65 per cent of those aged 12 to 15 have had at least one dose.
However, with those age groups combined, we are only at 89.5 per cent with one dose and 78 per cent fully vaccinated, so we know there is still work to do.
Further, some people are not turning up for their second dose, which is extremely disappointing. I urge those people to look at what has happened across the world, where more than 5 million lives have been lost, and closer to home, where more than 1,800 people in Australia have lost their lives.
One age cohort that is lagging is those aged 16 to 24 years, which is sitting at around 75 per cent for a first dose.
Public Health is currently reviewing whether restrictions at events, such as caps on numbers dancing and drinking standing up, can be relaxed for higher risk venues and activities such as music festivals and concerts, if all attendees are fully vaccinated.
So, if you want to attend these festival and events, and dance and stand up to drink, please get vaccinated.
The Check in Tas App is in the final stages of being adapted to enable a green vaccination tick to verify full vaccination. This will then be able to be used at certain events where vaccination is a requirement, and is likely to also be used for our border check processes.
December 15 is fast approaching and there will be no turning back – let's give it our best shot. Get vaccinated.
