Schools in Canungra and Gatton again became school vaccination clinics last weekend as Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced rules for unvaxxed Queenslanders will continue into next year.
The Premier’s plans to reopen borders will mean domestic travel by air and road will be quarantine-free for vaccinated people from Friday, December 17.
The reopening will also mean that working in or visiting much of the hospitality and entertainment sectors will be off limits for unvaccinated people aged 16 and over.
Restrictions will also be put in place for those not double jabbed at weddings, funerals, and visits to vulnerable settings like hospitals and aged care homes.
The rules will be reviewed once the state hits a 90 per cent double-dose threshold which Ms Palaszczuk said was expected in “early- to mid-January [2022].”
The details of what the review will entail is unclear, however the premier said the rules for unvaccinated people ‘would not go backwards.’
“We have no plans to go backwards at this stage, so it will stay in place, and we will reassess,” she said.
Fifty-eight Queensland school vaccination hubs were reinstated for November 13 and 14 and will return this weekend (November 20 and 21).
Vaccination clinics were set up at Lockyer District State High School and the Canungra Arts School Hall.
Ms Palaszczuk said the clinic locations were based on target areas where vaccination rates needed to improve.
“Our last pop-up school vaccination clinics were such a runaway success with 116 state schools stepping up to the plate,” she said.
“More than 16,000 were vaccinated at our last Super Schools weekend and I want to see even more people take advantage of having a vaccination centre even closer to where they live.”
Health Minister Yvette D’Ath said most schools will be in areas with low vaccination rates.
“Please, come forward and get vaccinated before the borders open,” she said.
“We know that when the borders open that everyone will be exposed to the virus – but if you get vaccinated, you protect yourself and your community.”
Education Minister Grace Grace said that no appointments were needed at the clinics, which offered vaccinations to both kids and adults.
“There’s no need to make an appointment for our pop-up school clinics. Anyone aged 12 or over can just show up and get their first or second dose.”
