Airport return hinges on vaccination rates

A new vaccination pop-up clinic will open at Cairns Airport Friday in a push by Cairns Airport and Queensland Health to lift vaccination rates across the region.                      

The Queensland government’s roadmap announced earlier this week has been welcomed by Cairns Airport with Far North Queenslanders encouraged to play their part to get tourism across the region back on track.

Airport Chief Executive Officer Richard Barker said that with the roadmap now in place for Queensland, the vaccination clinic on Airport was another opportunity for travellers and the aviation community to get vaccinated in time for the state’s opening.

“We all need to work together as a community to get vaccinated.  Hitting 80 per cent will protect the health of the vulnerable in our community and protect jobs in our region. For this community to really get back on its feet, we really need to hit 90 percent which will allow international visitors back.

“Its important that we really strive to ensure jobs and livelihoods are maintained in the lead up to Christmas, and vaccination is key to that.

“The airport is a hub for travellers and having a vaccination clinic accessible to travellers, aviation employees and locals is important to us in order to protect the health and jobs of people across the Far North.

“We’ve been through an incredibly tough eighteen months and we want to play our part in encouraging people to get vaccinated, so we can go back to doing what we do best, reconnecting people and places that are important to them.”

“This week is Airport Safety Week when we focus on the airport industry's continuing commitment to safety standards. Vaccination is key to protecting staff, contractors, tenants and the travelling public,” Mr Barker said.

Cairns and Hinterland Hospital and Health Service executive director Dr Don Mackie said the Health Service has been working closely with Cairns Airport to make the COVID – 19 vaccine as accessible as possible to travellers.

“Cairns Airport is one of the busiest airports in Australia, so having a clinic at the domestic terminal will give anyone who is not yet vaccinated either coming to our region or flying out, the best opportunity to protect our communities against the virus.”

The pop-up vaccination clinic at Cairns Airport will open Fridays – Monday from 6.00am – 1.30pm starting October 22. 

Cairns Airport is offering free car parking for one hour in the T2 Domestic Car Park for anyone that visits the Airport Clinic to get vaccinated. No bookings are required and anyone 12 years of age or over can walk-in for their Pfizer vaccine. For more details please visit: www.cairnsairport.com.au/vaccination-clinic