The Northern Territory's worst COVID-19 outbreak to date has led to a surge in vaccinations, but authorities say the uptake in Katherine remains stubbornly slow.
Katherine and the remote community of Robinson River have been in lockdown since Monday following the discovery of a growing coronavirus cluster.
So far, 19 Aboriginal Territorians have tested positive to the virus, with concerns those numbers could rise as more test results are returned.
But the outbreak has also coincided with an increase in another critical statistic.
"We've had an enormous uptick in our vaccination rates," NT Chief Health Officer, Dr Charles Pain, said.
The NT government yesterday said 96 per cent of Territorians have now received their first dose, while 83 per cent are fully vaccinated.
The latest data followed a day in which 2,244 people received a jab, according to NT figures.
'Fear' factor leading to vaccinations
Chief Minister Michael Gunner said the current outbreak, like others before it, had proven a motivating factor for people to protect themselves.
"When we have had fear in the community, people have got vaccinated," Mr Gunner said.
"Or when there has been a distinct, direct advantage to being vaccinated, like the lockout scenario where you can live your normal life, there has been a spike for vaccination."
Mr Gunner praised the response in Robinson River, where the first dose vaccination rate among eligible residents was yesterday expected to reach 100 per cent.
In Central Australia, he said four remote communities —Watarrka, Wallace Rockhole, Nyirripi and Ikuntji — had risen above the 70 per cent threshold for first doses.
The NT's peak First Nation's medical group also said there had been a noticeable increase in vaccinations administered by clinics affiliated with Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations.
"I think [the outbreak] is a wake-up call for all Territorians," Aboriginal Medical Services Alliance NT chief executive John Paterson said.
"Specifically for the Aboriginal population to get vaccinated – do not wait.
Low dose numbers in Katherine
In Katherine, the NT government said the first dose rate was 82 per cent, with 75 per cent of residents fully vaccinated.
But on Wednesday, just 95 doses were administered in the town.
The Chief Minister suggested the low figures could be the result of residents prioritising the need to get tested for COVID-19, with almost 700 tests conducted on Wednesday.
NT Police Commissioner Jamie Chalker said authorities were also trying to make it easier for people in Katherine to get to vaccination hubs.
"We have had some anecdotal feedback that transport was a problem," he said.
Katherine resident Lynette Hoffman, who has already received her first dose of the vaccine, urged others to do the same.
"Do not be afraid and please get that shot," she said.
"I am going for my second one on Friday and if I can do it, you can do it too."
Tennant Creek vaccine uptake rising slowly
The chief executive of the Anyinginyi Health Aboriginal Corporation in Tennant Creek, Barb Shaw, said she had noticed only a slight uptake in vaccination rates since the outbreak.
"We are seeing motivation in the community for the jab, but not as a major surge," Ms Shaw said.
The latest Commonwealth data for the Barkly region, which includes Tennant Creek, shows 49 per cent of people have received one dose, with 36 per cent fully vaccinated.
"We have yet to crunch the numbers to see the difference since the outbreak, but it would be minimal," Ms Shaw said.
The Chief Health Officer said the outbreak was far from over and urged Territorians to get vaccinated.
"We're not out of the woods," Dr Pain said.
"But if we continue to do what we're doing, and what you have done up to now, there is some chance we will come through this with a number of positives.
"One is higher vaccination rates — vaccination rates that will protect us all."
