The Territory Labor Government is leading the nation on the vaccine rollout with 9.2 per cent of Territorians fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
More than 70,700 vaccine doses have been administered in the NT and this includes 53,000 people who have had one vaccine and a further 17,000 people fully vaccinated.
This comes as the Territory Labor Government became the first Australian jurisdiction to open access to vaccinations to everyone aged 16 and over.
Territorians have since booked their vaccination appointments in droves with more than 5607 bookings recorded just 48 hours after people 16 and over became eligible for the vaccine.
We now have a strong vaccination program for all urban and regional centres in Darwin, Alice Springs, Katherine, Tennant Creek and Nhulunbuy, in addition to in-reach teams to all remote communities including Borroloola, Engawala, Impana, Jabiru, Daly River, Numbulwar, Pirlangimpi and Warruwi.
There has been an excellent take up in Territory communities, and we continue to work with the Commonwealth and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations to ensure that all Territorians have access to the vaccine.
We have adopted strategies to ensure high vaccine uptake including the use of interpreter services, videos in language and engagement with community elders to act as local advocates.
The vaccine rollout will continue to accelerate next month with more Pfizer vaccines expected to arrive and a new mass vaccination clinic on track to open.
Quotes Attributable to Health Minister Natasha Fyles:
"We are leading the nation with our vaccine rollout just like we led the public health and economic response to the pandemic.
"More than 28 per cent of Territorians have now received at least one vaccine while 9.2 per cent Territorians fully vaccinated.
"These are the best vaccination numbers in Australia compared with the national average of 3.2 per cent."
