COVID-19 UPDATE: School's in for vaccines

There have been no new locally acquired cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours but it is only a matter of time before there’s another outbreak, the Health Minister says as she urges people to get vaccinated this weekend. Hubs have opened at two local high schools.

Health Minister Yvette D’Ath and Chief Health Officer Dr Jeannette Young have provided an update from one of those schools, Deception Bay State High School, this morning.

There are now 34 active cases in Queensland, more than 11,000 people have been tested in the past 24 hours and more than 20,000 vaccines administered.

Ms D’Ath says it is great to see increasing vaccination rates (69.27 per cent first dose, 51.06 second dose), but she hopes people will take advantage of the opportunity to have a vaccine at school and community hubs this weekend.

At Deception Bay State High School there is even a sausage sizzle today.

“Pop down to your local high school, get a sausage sizzle, support the school and get vaccinated,” she says.

Dr Young says if this weekend’s trial is successful, more hubs will be opened at high schools in a bid to make it easier for people to get vaccinated.

“Anyone who hasn’t had a first dose, now is genuinely the time to come and do that,” she says.

Dr Young says we don’t know when the next outbreak will be and the best protection is vaccination.

State Member for Bancroft Chris Whiting is urging his community, which has a reputation for working together, to get vaccinated.

“It is the right thing to look after the ones we love, show our pride and get vaccinated,” he says.

It’s a sentiment shared by Deception Bay State High School students present at the press conference today including Casey Apiata.

“Come on down and get vaccinated and while you’re at it, get a snag,” he says.

Bookings are not required.

Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines are also available at Morayfield State High School.

The Morayfield State High School, Visentin Rd, clinic will open from 9am–3pm today and 9am–1pm on Sunday.

Deception Bay State High School clinic, at Phillip Pde, will open 9am-2pm today and 8.45am-2pm on Sunday.

Registering online for the vaccine in advance helps the team on the ground, so if you’ve got a few spare minutes complete the online form: https://bit.ly/3uM7w5u

Possible exposure sites

Historical cases in Queensland