Jennifer Howard, Member for Ipswich, is on a mission to get everyone in Ipswich vaccinated saying it is absolutely vital to protect yourselves and your loved ones from COVID-19.
Ms Howard had her second dose of the AstraZeneca vaccine on Friday at Queensland Health’s Ipswich Vaccination Clinic on Nicholas Street.
“Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect our community against COVID-19,” Ms Howard said.
“People are saying they desperately want things to go back to normal, to start going back to doing the things they love like moving freely around the country, taking holidays without the worry they’ll be cancelled at the last minute, and to see family and friends interstate.”
However, Ms Howard does not want to open up too early while vaccination rates are still low.
“It would be too much of a risk to vulnerable people in our community who have yet to be vaccinated,” said Ms Howard.
“Without high vaccination rates, the number of people falling severely ill from COVID-19 would put immense pressure on our hospital system and would certainly see people lose their lives.
“We all know this Delta variant of COVID-19 is absolutely brutal in its speed of transmission, and there’s already a huge risk the virus will cross the border into Queensland anytime,” warned Ms Howard.
“In recent days we’ve seen two covid-positive truck drivers in the community, one of whom was in Bundamba last week – that is very worrying.”
Ms Howard said that we will continue to keep seeing these incursions of COVID-19 into Queensland as long as New South Wales continues to have high covid case rates.
“The risk is present every day, especially in the Ipswich community where vaccination rates are still too low.”
Ms Howard noted that the Ipswich region is the fourth lowest in the state for COVID-19 vaccinations with only 27 per cent of people aged 15 years and over fully vaccinated, and only 44 per cent having had one dose.
Ms Howard said that Ipswich had additional issues that could exacerbate COVID-19’s impact on our community, including higher than average rates of chronic disease and disability. “The toll on our community would be absolutely devastating,” said Ms Howard.
“Further to that, infrequent snap lockdowns are taking a real toll on our local small businesses, workers, and school students, contributing to mental health issues and financial stress,” said Ms Howard.
“While we’re not in the same boat as New South Wales or Victoria, our infrequent short, sharp lockdowns and restrictions are causing fatigue and are disruptive to our lives.
“It’s stopping us from planning long term, stopping us celebrating milestone events in our lives, closing off opportunities, permanently shutting businesses - we can’t keep living like this forever.”
“That is why we all need to get vaccinated – so we can be free from the uncertainty hanging over us and go back to living our lives normally again.”
Ms Howard said that there are three ways you can book a COVID-19 vaccine:
- Register for a vaccine appointment with Queensland Health – visit www.vaccinebookings.health.qld.gov.au/ to register or;
- Book a vaccination with your GP or;
- Get in touch with your local pharmacist.
