Roll up to get your shot

Roll up to your local Pharmacy

Herriet Peck receiving her AstraZeneca vaccination with Gift Phillips from Marlin Coast Amcal Pharmacy.

Photo: Peter McCullagh

By Peter McCullagh

With international borders starting to open, the push is on to lift vaccination levels across Queensland and in particular the far north. At the end of October less than 64 per cent of the eligible 16+ population in Queensland had received both vaccination doses, whilst only 77.6 per cent have received their first dose. To meet the Queensland government’s goal of opening borders by December 17, a huge vaccination drive is needed. Twenty-four community pharmacies throughout the Cairns region have now been accredited to administer the COVID vaccination. Nathan Dobbie from Marlin Coast Amcal Pharmacy believes this could significantly lift the number of people rolling up their sleeve to receive their first or second jab. “The relationship between a pharmacist and their customer is an important one. People trust their local pharmacist, we understand what medication our customers are on, and we’re there to answer their questions. “There’s a lot of mis-information currently surrounding COVID vaccinations, your local pharmacist can answer many of the common questions helping our customers come to an informed decision regarding vaccination,” he said. “Pharmacies have been administering a range of vaccinations for a number of years. The annual flu jab along with many of the common childhood vaccinations, it made perfect sense to include COVID vaccinations to the list, we’re local, very accessible and in most cases, you can receive your vaccination within 24 hours of booking.” Northern Beaches locals, Greg and Herriet Peck received their second AstraZeneca vaccination dose this week at Marlin Coast Amcal Pharmacy. “It’s so convenient for us. This is our local pharmacy, they know us here and so we had no hesitation in booking in,” said Ms Peck. “We have family visiting us this Christmas from Melbourne who are all fully vaccinated, so we wanted to make sure we were double vaxxed well before they arrive. It’s going to be a great Christmas.”

To find your local participating pharmacy, head to the website, www.findapharmacy. com.au to register. You can book an appointment online there or request a call back to speak an operator to arrange a vaccination appointment.

The road map to recovery in the north

By Peter McCullagh

For North Queensland the COVID recovery can commence with a simple jab. To ensure we all benefit for the tourism and travel resurgence we all must do out bit and roll up our sleeves and get vaccinated. It is expected that Queensland will reach the 80 per cent target state-wide just prior to Christmas, however with vaccination levels lagging in parts of the north more will need to be done to ensure we can all benefit from the easing of travel and international border restrictions. The COVID road is transparently clear: At 70%

Vaccination Level

(Expected Nov 19)

Entry to Queensland from a COVID Hotspot • By air only • Must be fully vaccinated • Must test negative to

COVID-19 within the past 72 hours • Undertake 14 days of home quarantine

Entry to Queensland from overseas • Direct arrivals into

Queensland must complete 14 days of hotel quarantine • People entering via other states must complete hotel quarantine until 14 days have passed since their arrival into Australia

At 80%

Vaccination Level

(Expected Dec 17)

Entry to Queensland from a COVID Hotspot. • By air or road • Must be fully vaccinated • Must test negative to

COVID-19 within the past 72 hours • No quarantine required

Entry to Queensland from overseas • Fully vaccinated arrivals with a negative COVID test within 72 hours can home quarantine • International arrivals who do not meet those conditions must complete 14 days of hotel quarantine

At 90%

Vaccination Level

(Expected late January)

No border restrictions or quarantine for fully vaccinated people Unvaccinated travellers will need to meet requirements for entry and undertake a period of quarantine

The ‘Dettol Duo’, Greg and Herriet Peck after receiving this AstraZeneca vaccinations at Marlin Coast Amcal Pharmacy

Photo: Peter McCullagh

Accredited Local Pharmacies

Accredited local pharmacies in the Cairns Region have been given the green light to administer the COVID-19 vaccination to eligible residents. You can book your vaccination online or directly with your accredited local pharmacy. To book your vaccination visit www.findapharmacy.com.au to register your interest.

Participating community pharmacies in Cairns (Vaccination Sites) WholeLife Pharmacy & Healthfoods – Pease St Optimal Pharmacy Plus – Raintrees Alive Pharmacy Warehouse – DFO Alive Pharmacy Warehouse – Westcourt Earlville Discount Drug Store TerryWhite Chemmart – Earlville WholeLife Pharmacy & Healthfoods – Barr Street Ramsay Pharmacy Cairns Medical Centre TerryWhite Chemmart Cairns Central Priceline Pharmacy Cairns Central Chemist Warehouse Cairns Calanna Pharmacy Woree Alive Pharmacy Warehouse Orchid Plaza Stratford Village Pharmacy TerryWhite Chemmart Redlynch Alive Pharmacy Warehouse Mount Sheridan Alive Pharmacy Warehouse Smithfield Doctors Alive Pharmacy Warehouse Smithfield Smithfield Discount Chemist Alive Pharmacy Warehouse Edmonton Calanna Wholehealth Pharmacy Edmonton Amcal Marlin Coast Trinity Beach Pharmacy Kuranda Discount Drug Store

COUNCIL NEWS ...

CONTACT US:

1300 69 22 47 w cairns.qld.gov.au

CBD 40km/h zone expanding

The 40km/h zone in the Cairns CBD will be expanded from 22 November to include the section south of Spence St to Wharf St, including Sheridan, Grafton, Lake, Abbott and Hartley streets. Existing 40km/h speed limits in the CBD and the low-speed zones in Lake St and the Cairns Esplanade will remain unchanged. The success of a 40km/h traffic speed limit in the Cairns CBD, which was introduced in early 2019, has driven further expansion of the speed limit zone. Data presented to Council showed casualties due to vehicle crashes fell overall by 21.6% since the introduction of the 40km/h traffic speed limit, and cyclist and pedestrian casualties have reduced by 36%.

Council Ordinary Meeting

Council will hold its next Ordinary Meeting on Wednesday 10 November from 9am. Council meetings are open to the public with limited numbers allowed in the Chambers. Meetings are also live streamed and recorded on Council’s website.

Improvement works

Aeroglen Dr, Aeroglen: Asphalt works between the Captain Cook Highway and Whitfield St. Anderson Street, Trinity Beach: Kerb and channel works from Monday 8 November. Expect temporary lane closure and detours. Behan St, Stratford: Culvert removal and replacement at Clacherty St intersection from Monday 8 November. Expect temporary road closures. For a full list of works see our website.