The head of the Australian Medical Association says the message to get vaccinated against COVID-19 has hit home for Sydneysiders amid rapidly increasing risk of contracting the virus, but needed to be reinforced in other states.
Speaking at the AMA National Conference on Saturday, Omar Khorshid said poor delivery and quickly changing messaging around vaccination had been a barrier in uptake, but the imposing threat of the Delta strain in Sydney shifted the goalposts.
He said there were still improvements to be made in getting clear and consistent vaccine communications to all Australians.
People who had been prepared to wait for a vaccine while Australia's Covid caseload was low, now saw the impact Delta could have and were lining up for the jab, Dr Khorshid said.
Another 210 cases were reported in NSW on Saturday. Two thirds of those are people under the age of 40.
The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation has advised people living in locked down parts of NSW amid the surging caseload, to get any vaccine available to them as the benefits outweigh the risks.
Dr Khorshid wanted to see the messaging around the risk of COVID-19 portrayed to other states not living with outbreaks, to fight vaccine hesitancy and see more people step forward.
He said there had been "examples of governments doing too little, too late" throughout the pandemic, but resolved listening to medical experts had reaped success.
"Good decisions are those based in science and advised by experts," he said.
Speaking at the event, Labor shadow minister for health Mark Butler said the four-stage plan released following National Cabinet with the vaccination rates needed to open up, was an "important moment to life the nations' spirits".
The Prime Minister Scott Morrison announced a national COVID-19 vaccination target of 80 per cent will be required for Australia to reopen the nation.
Before that, the target that will trigger the start of the graduation easing of restrictions has been set at 70 per cent of vaccinated eligible Australians.
Mr Butler called on the federal government to release the detailed modelling from Treasury and the Doherty Institute on the road ahead for Australia.
"We need that detail ... we deserve that detail," he said.
"We want a full debate about this."
The Prime Minister, addressing the conference, said medical experts were listened to "every step of the way" through the pandemic response.
"We have given a keen ear to their advice, not just on the medical issues but how we can actually ensure that the vaccines and the other issues can be delivered and disseminated right across the population."
