Domestic travellers should keep away from regional areas until COVID-19 vaccination rates in such destinations increase, a leading epidemiologist warns.
Domestic tourism is set to resume as some states emerge from lockdown, but UNSW infectious diseases expert Mary-Louise McLaws said greater vaccine protection was first needed in travel hotspots.
"We've got to wait until it is further down the track, until the regional areas have had enough access to the vaccine, so they don't have people coming into the regional areas and spreading it," Prof McLaws told the Nine Network.
"(Victoria) have 60 per cent double vaccinated, but that doesn't mean every area is at 60 per cent."
The warning came as Victoria recorded another spike in cases on Wednesday, with 1571 new infections and a further 13 deaths.
The state's chief health officer Brett Sutton had previously said he was cautiously optimistic about having seen the peak of the virus cases.
NSW registered 444 new COVID cases, on the third full day of eased restrictions in the state following the end of the lockdown.
NSW also had four COVID-related deaths in that time.
The ACT had a near-record high number of infections, with 51 on Wednesday, just days before Canberra will end its COVID lockdown.
The national capital remains on track to be one of the one of the most vaccinated cities in the world, with territory health authorities saying 99 per cent of the eligible population will be fully vaccinated by the end of November.
Professor McLaws said NSW was also on track to reach 80 per cent double dose, triggering a further easing of restrictions.
"Certainly 80 per cent will be happening in the next week," she said.
"It would be great to get to 90 per cent earlier rather than later."
Meanwhile, pharmaceutical giant Pfizer has begun the process to get its COVID-19 vaccine approved in Australia for children aged five to 11.
Health Minister Greg Hunt says there's some work to be done before Pfizer gets the "double green light".
A Pfizer spokeswoman told AAP trial results had shown a favourable safety profile and robust antibody response for two doses of its vaccine.
The data has gone to US regulators for an initial review.
A formal submission for emergency use authorisation, along with submissions to other regulatory authorities, are planned in the coming weeks.
Pfizer has applied to Australia's Therapeutic Goods Administration for a provisional determination, which will allow formal application for inclusion of the five to 11-year-old age group.
