The Northern Territory’s COVID-19 vaccine rollout continues to lag as the Gunner government announces the start of its booster shot program.

November 4, 2021

The Northern Territory is set to make COVID-19 booster shots available to fully vaccinated people as the rollout continues to lag.

The Gunner government has lost its 50-day race to have 80 per cent of the NT’s eligible population fully vaccinated by early November.

According to federal government data, just 64 per cent of Territorians aged 16 and over have had two jabs.

That number is even lower in vulnerable remote communities, with just 53 per cent of eligible people fully vaccinated across the territory on average.

The Barkly region and Central Australia were on Thursday sitting at just 17 and 31 per cent fully vaccinated respectively, with only the East Arnhem region hitting the 80 per cent target.

The NT government remains hopeful it will reach 80 per cent coverage before Christmas, with an optimistic spokesman saying it could happen in November.

“We will hit 80 per cent double-dose in the coming days but more importantly we will smash through 80 and crack 90 this year,” the official said in a statement.

“That is a huge achievement and we thank every Territorian who has rolled up their sleeve for themselves, their family, their mates, and the Territory.”

The NT government has previously linked the 80 per cent target with changes to COVID-19 health restrictions as part of the territory’s reopening plan to jurisdictions where the virus is present.

But it was forced to revise its plans in recent weeks in a bid to push the vaccination rate up.

This included introducing mandatory vaccinations for most workers across the NT and a home quarantine trial for fully vaccinated Territorians returning from hot spots.

The moves come as NT Health releases COVID-19 vaccine booster shot appointments for fully vaccinated people aged 18 and over who received their second vaccine dose six months ago.

Pfizer and AstraZeneca vaccines will be available.