Frewen set to fire up NQ vaccine push

TOWNSVILLE is one of eight local government areas in the sights of the head of the national Covid-19 vaccine taskforce.

Lieutenant General John Frewen, who is leading the country’s vaccine push, is trying to ignite a fire in North Queenslanders to get the state up to national standard in vaccine numbers in time for the borders to open on December 17.

General Frewen, (pictured) who was stationed with 1RAR at Lavarack for part of his service, said Townsville had one of the lowest vaccination rates for a large population centre. He has also written to Cairns Regional Council.

“There is clearly some issues, for whatever reason, in those populations,

some of it is hesitancy, some of it is misinformation, misunderstanding and some of it is complacency,” he said.

“Just to make sure we are leaving no stone unturned in trying to help populations get vaccinated.”

General Frewen said with NSW and Victoria opening up, international travel was returning and Delta would spread.

He said the Delta strain did not discriminate, it moves fast and goes after people who are not vaccinated.

“It’s going to move to points of vulnerability and points of vulnerability are where there is no vaccination,” he said.

General Frewen said he was also looking at the Indigenous populations and cohorts that needed to be addressed.

“There is also … in many Indigenous communities complacency, and it is complacency born of the fact that they haven’t had significant outbreaks,” he said.