PALM ISLAND LEADING THE NATION ON VACCINATION

If the island of Australia had taken to vaccines in the same manner as a small island off Townsville the country would be in a lot better shape. Palm Island is leading the way when it comes to vaccinations with more than 1170 jabs already delivered in a population of about 4000.

When you deduct the children from the island population Palm would have on of the best vaccination rates in the country.

And it’s no wonder. The community has had to deal with some of the most strict lockdown rules of anywhere in the nation to keep the vulnerable community safe.

The figures aren’t exact but the island community is about 30 to 40 per cent vaccinated, maybe higher.

Compared to the rest of the country where less than 7 per cent of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people are fully vaccinated and just over 13 per cent of the general population, Palm is a shining light.

Even near neighbour Magnetic Island, the island at the centre of the recent scare, can’t compete with Palm’s vaccine numbers.

But Mayor Mislam

...Palm is a shining light.

Sam isn’t about to slow down until the whole community is protected.

He was one of the first in line to be vaccinated on the island and said the Delta variant scare on Magnetic Island was too close to home.

“I think we missed a very large bullet,” he said.

“I asked for further lockdowns of my community (when restrictions eased) to make sure we were in a safe space. I thought it was too soon.”

Even now there are still some restrictions in place with a blanket request that anyone who visits the island be vaccinated.

“We’re asking them to do the right thing and respect our view in regards to protecting our community,” he said.

It’s strong and sensible leadership, leadership that should be emulated around the country to help us out of the Covid mess.