THE mayors of Buloke Shire Council and Borough of Queenscliffe are going jab for jab, setting a challenge to see which municipality can be the first in the state to have 80 per cent of their residents fully vaccinated.
The two rural councils are first and second in Victoria for the highest percentage of residents fully vaccinated against coronavirus, with 64 per cent of Borough residents and 48.4 per cent of Buloke residents having already received two doses.
The Doherty Institute said there would be less lockdowns and more freedoms when the nation reached at least 80 per cent vaccination levels.
Under the modelling, led by the science and clinical research institute and commissioned by the federal government to advise on the National Plan to transition Australia’s National COVID-19 Response, once we achieve 70 per cent to 80 per cent vaccination we will see less transmission of Covid and fewer people with severe illness, and therefore fewer hospitalisations and deaths.
Buloke mayor Daryl Warren said Buloke residents have answered every call during the pandemic.
“Right through the pandemic we are still Covid-free, which is a huge achievement, and the fact we are getting jabs into citizens at a great rate is more pleasing,” he said.
“We have to thank people behind the scenes – the hard-working health staff, doctors, clinicians – they are testimony of the community spirit here.
“As for the side bet, we are a couple of mates that have known each other for a ling time, who just happened to be number one and two on the list – a strange coincidence.
“But there is a serious side to it. There will be people flat tonight after the news of another couple of weeks of not much happening until October.
“We are all getting a bit flat, even with the best intentions, so hopefully this challenge can be a bit of a distraction.”
The shire was given a scare in July when a when a positive case visited Bakery on Broadway in Wycheproof while travelling from Melbourne to Mildura after going to the football at the MCG.
Asked if regional Victoria should be opened up hereon until the 80 per cent national target was met, Cr Warren referred to the principle of “one in, all in”.
“From a government perspective, it seems like it’s easier to manage that way than a different set of rules,” he said.
Cr Warren never had doubts Buloke residents would get behind the vaccination program, many of which were vaccinated in the first phase.
Age is likely to be a factor in both councils’ high vaccination rates.
According to census figures from 2016, the Borough of Queenscliffe had a median age of 60, while Buloke shire’s was 51 – both much higher than the statewide median of 37.
Almost 70 per cent of Queenscliffe’s population was over the age of 40.
“From the out, I know the local clinic in Donald, for example, were onto it, out there spreading the message that older residents were eligible for the vaccine.
“Our health service have been out there supporting the cause.”
“It’s what it says about country people … we just had the Census, and I can tell you from London to a brick, when it comes to volunteering (a question in the Census) country people are right up the top right.
“This is just another area where country people roll the sleeves up, get the jab and get on with it
“I have no doubt that there is the ethic out there that we just want to do the right thing. We are all just tired now, want a break and get back to normality.”
Cr Warren said we have got “the carrot there” to reach the vaccination targets in order to open up, with discussions ongoing with East Wimmera Health Service about using bigger town halls to open up more vaccination hubs.
The mayoral challenge also includes real stakes, with the losing mayor agreeing to host the winning mayor for dinner and a night’s accommodation in their community when it’s safe to do so.
“The only disappointing thing is the Queenscliffe mayor (Ross Ebbels) keeps looking at our website and saying that would be a nice place to stay when visiting you … just settle down over there, mr mayor, it’s not over until the fat lady sings,” Cr Warren said.
