Vaccine rate soars to mid-nineties

ANOTHER week of strong vaccination rates has resulted in Central Victoria achieving another milestone.

According to Federal Government data released on Sunday, the region has reached 95 per cent first dose vaccination for people aged 16 and over, joining Ballarat, Geelong and Shepparton which have also reached the figure.

Chair of Bendigo Health Bob Cameron said the community has also reached over 73 per cent double dose rates.

“What a great achievement by local people, protecting local people,” he said.

Mr Cameron said as the state begins to open up, high vaccination rates are the best way to protect health services and ourselves.

“The key issue we are going to have when people start moving between Melbourne and regional areas is a large increase in cases and the unvaccinated will be at higher risk,” he said.

“While the vaccination rates are very high, we know unvaccinated people are a higher risk of hospitalisation and as a health service we want to protect against this.”

At time of writing, 11 people are in Bendigo Hospital with COVID-19, seven of which are in the respiratory ward and four in the ICU.

As of Tuesday, the state’s first dose vaccination rate is just over 88 per cent and second dose just under 67 per cent.