Caution over vax targets

AUSTRALIANS are being cautioned by the nation’s peak medical body not to view the achievement of key vaccination milestones as “freedom day”.

The Australian Medical Association has cautiously backed the government’s plan to reopen the nation but warned politicians against selling vaccination targets as tickets to freedom.

“Achievement of the 70 per cent or 80 per cent vaccination targets in the national plan or the Doherty modelling cannot be regarded or promoted as being ‘freedom day’,” a statement from the AMA reads.

“These targets must be treated as incremental steps towards higher benchmarks that Doherty will provide further advice on.”

Under the national plan, restrictions for fully vaccinated individuals will be eased once 70 and 80 per cent of the Australian population aged 16 and older are fully vaccinated.

The nation is projected to reach the 70 per cent target in October.

The AMA statement, backed by the body’s 35-member federal council, comes after the Doherty Institute provided updated advice to national cabinet on Friday.

National cabinet was told it would be prudent to maintain “medium” public health measures, such as stay-at-home orders, in areas of concern until an 80 per cent vaccination target was reached.

Advice from the AMA is in lock-step with the Doherty Institute’s advice, and the statement warns that Australia cannot solely rely on a vaccination strategy.

“Public health measures, including restrictions, socialdistancing, and personal hygiene, alongside testing, contact tracing and quarantine must remain part of the suite of measures used to effectively manage the pandemic,” the statement reads.

The AMA said while lockdowns remained an effective tool, the economic and social cost was “not sustainable”.

“The emergence of the Delta strain has shown that it is very difficult to achieve elimination through lockdowns and we know that they come at a significant social and economic cost that is not sustainable.”