Border vaccine rules to tighten

NEW South Wales residents living in the border region have a limited window to cross into Queensland to get a Covid jab before they are locked out.

Currently anyone living in the border region of NSW can cross into Queensland to get a Covid vaccine if it is not reasonable to get one in their hometown.

From 1am Saturday, this option will only be available to essential workers living in the border region.

Additionally, from Friday, essential workers will only be allowed to enter Queensland if they have had at least one dose of a Covid vaccine.

Darling Downs City Patrol Inspector Paul James said the definition of what constituted an essential worker was slim.

“Get onto the Queensland Health website and make yourself familiar with the definition,” he said.

“It’s not whether you decide you are an essential worker.

“Do your research before you get to the border rather than get there and try to argue your case.”

The changing rules come as the Darling Downs Public Health Network announced it would run two Pfizer vaccination hubs at Goondiwindi and Inglewood.

The hubs will prioritise aged care and disability support workers, Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Peoples and essential workers who need to cross the border.

People wanting to get the jab must book in advance.

Insp James said the tightening border restrictions were designed to halt the northward spread of the deadly Covid Delta strain.

“We have these really tight restrictions but at the end of the day we rely on people to be honest,” he said.

“If we end up with a situation like what is happening in NSW then it will be very damaging to businesses.

“We want people to do the right thing and put the whole community as a priority.”

The tightening rules come as police arrested a motorcyclist who blitzed past the Wallangarra checkpoint on Tuesday night.

Insp James said police caught up with the man on the outskirts of Boonah and carted him back to NSW.

The man faces fines of up to $4400 for knowingly breaching a direction from the chief health officer.

“The matter is still under investigation,” Insp James said.

Covid vaccine hubs

■ Inglewood. MacIntyre Sports Complex, Chilcott Street. Thursday 1pm-5pm, Friday 9am-12pm.

■ Goondiwindi, Goondiwindi Hospital, B Block, 4 Bowen Street.

Daily, Thursday to Saturday, from 9am to 7pm.

To make at either clinic clinics phone 07 4615 0932.