CORONAVIRUS —
VACCINATIONS — TRANSITION PLAN
1200. Hon Dr STEVE THOMAS to the Leader of the House representing
the Premier:
I refer to the government's
plan to reopen the state once the target of 90 per cent of eligible people
being double vaccinated is met and the fact that Western Australia has the
lowest vaccination rate in the country.
(1) By what date
will the inability to reach the 90 per cent target, if that happens, be
considered a failure of the government's vaccination program?
(2) What is the expected impact on
the state's economy if the target is not met by that date?
Hon SUE
ELLERY replied:
I thank the honourable member for
some notice of the question.
(1) Achieving 90
per cent double-dose vaccination coverage means fewer people will become very
sick, need hospital care or die from COVID-19. Around 88 per cent of eligible Western
Australians have received at least one dose of a COVID-19 vaccination and
nearly 80 per cent have received two doses. This was as at 7 December. I note
the Auditor General's recent report into WA's COVID-19
vaccination rollout, which states —
In an environment of uncertain supply
and demand, the COVID-19 vaccination program in WA has been largely effective
in delivering injections for the vast majority of people.
Instead
of constantly undermining the vaccination rollout, all political parties should
join the state government in encouraging all eligible Western Australians
to get vaccinated.
Several members interjected.
The PRESIDENT: Order! Please
allow Hansard the opportunity to record the contribution.
Hon SUE ELLERY: This is
important, President, and it is important that people hear this next bit.
(2) The Western Australian economy is easily the
strongest in Australia and one of the most successful in the world.