Huge vaccine milestone days away in NSW after hitting 67 per cent first dose

NSW could achieve a major vaccine milestone in the coming days, with more than 67 per cent of eligible residents now having received one dose of the Covid vaccine.

According to the Covid Live website, which provides real-time updates on vaccination targets, NSW should reach 70 per cent for first doses on September 3.

“We want to get to the magic 70 per cent and 80 per cent as quickly as possible,” Premier Gladys Berejiklian said.

“Can I please encourage everybody who has not yet made plans for vaccination to really consider September as the month when (you) and your loved ones are vaccinated.

“It’s so critical for all of us to have a more hopeful spring by making sure we get those vaccination rates up.”

The Premier said she hoped NSW could achieve seven million doses this week or to at least hit that 70 per cent first dose target, which she described as “amazing”.

Seventy per cent of eligible residents should have had both doses by October 21.

“While 70 per cent double dose gives those of us (who are) vaccinated freedoms, 80 per cent double doses allows us to look at international travel,” Ms Berejiklian said.

“How wonderful would it be to welcome back all Aussies who want to be reunited with their families by Christmas, and NSW will step up to support that cause.”

NSW recorded 1164 new locally acquired cases of Covid-19 on Tuesday.

Three people also died with the virus in the 24-hour reporting period up to 8pm on Monday.

“Three people have lost their lives, a woman in her 50s died at Campbelltown Hospital, a man in his 80s from the City of Sydney died at St Vincent’s Hospital and a man in his 90s from southwestern Sydney died at Campbelltown Hospital,” NSW chief health officer Kerry Chant said.

There are 871 Covid cases in hospital, with 143 people in intensive care and 58 of those patients requiring ventilation.

There has also been an increase to an outbreak at Parklea jail with 43 new cases, taking the outbreak to 75.

Almost 20 million Australians have received their first dose of the vaccine.

The Premier was also probed about hospitalisation rates and whether frontline workers could cope with the influx of cases.

She said workers would be under the “greatest pressure” in October if there was an accumulation of cases and an unvaccinated population.

“But once you get the high rates of vaccination, the rate of people in hospital and intensive care declines,” Ms Berejiklian said.