IN 70 days, north-west Victoria could have 80 per cent of its population aged over 16 fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
That’s close to 100,000 people, stretching from Mildura to Ararat, Charlton and Kerang.
We could reach that milestone by Saturday, November 6, if we maintain our current rate of vaccination.
This is by no means a date that is set in stone. If we fall off the pace, it will of course take longer to reach 80 per cent and, if we improve our vaccination rate, we could meet the mark days, if not weeks earlier.
I’m happy to say almost one in three people in north-west Victoria is fully vaccinated, and I became one of them on Wednesday.
Being fully vaccinated doesn’t mean I won’t get COVID-19, but it makes it a lot less likely. I’m also less likely to be hospitalised or lose my life from the virus. As a 41-year-old with a pre-existing respiratory condition (asthma), I do not want to take my chances with COVID. Getting immunised was not just something I did for myself, but for my family and especially my son.
If you are still under the false impression that COVID is fatal only for older people in their 80s or 90s, you need to watch the news. You will see the growing numbers of people in their 30s and 40s who are succumbing to the disease. Many are not vaccinated.
We have had challenges with the vaccine rollout and mixed messaging about the relative safety of the AstraZeneca and Pfizer vaccines. Understandably, this has left some people confused.
But, when making a decision, don’t consult Dr Google. Don’t fall down the rabbit hole of obscure websites and fringe science. Just talk to your GP. You know your GP. You know they have no vested interests. You know they care about you and your family. You know they have your best interests at heart and you can trust them. Take their advice.
We are all angry about lockdowns and border closures. The best way to channel that anger is to do something constructive. Get vaccinated.
