The Northern Territory is aiming to have 80 per cent of its eligible population fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by early November.
If it does, sweeping changes will be introduced as part of the territory's reopening plan to jurisdictions where the virus is present.
These include mandatory vaccinations for workers in high-risk settings, along with new border, quarantine and lockdown rules.
"The key to these next steps being a success, the key to the territory staying safe and open is vaccines," Chief Minister Michael Gunner told reporters on Wednesday.
"We are now in a 50-day race to freedom."
To move to "COVID-safe freedom", more than 80 per cent of the population over 16 will need to be fully vaccinated.
This includes remote Indigenous communities, some of which currently have vaccination rates below 10 per cent.
There will also need to be "strong and growing" vaccination rates amongst 12 to 15-year-olds.
If this is achieved, vaccinated people from COVID hotspots will be able to enter the NT and quarantine at home or another suitable location.
"As far as our border measures go when we reach the next phase, it will boil down to this: no jab, no entry," Mr Gunner said.
How the territory responds to virus outbreaks is also set to change with only those people who choose not to be vaccinated likely to be ordered to lockdown.
"For vaccinated people, life will continue almost as usual," Mr Gunner said.
Once the new rules are introduced, businesses and venues will have the right to refuse entry to unvaccinated people and employers will be able to dismiss or reassign workers who refuse to get the jab.
Jobs that will require mandatory vaccination include people who work with children or vulnerable people, frontline health and emergency workers, and customer service roles in the retail and hospitality industry.
Essential infrastructure, supply-chain and logistics workers will also be ordered by the NT Chief Health Officer to get vaccinated.
