V-Day. Victory and Vaccination.

All politics is local. Below is a short post that I shared with my electorate.

V-Day. V for Victory and Vaccination.

When our vaccination rates hit the prescribed 70% and 80%, as outlined in the Doherty Report, we must begin to appropriately reopen the economy both locally and internationally.

Earlier this month I launched a campaign to encourage all of us on the Northern Beaches to get vaccinated.

Did it work? We are 4th in the entire nation for vaccination. Well done. More than 65% of the Northern Beaches has had its first jab.

The rest of the world has demonstrated that Delta cannot be avoided, it is time to get on with living our lives and minimising the impact of the virus.

The novel coronavirus will one day no longer be novel.

We must continue to accelerate vaccination. Once 70% of the NSW population is vaccinated, we must appropriately reopen.

I am not advocating that we drop all precautions. We must remain vigilant and be smart. But our shops must reopen, our families reconnect, and school must recommence.

This will require a psychological leap. One that is already happening. Many of us have started to focus on vaccination rates instead of daily case numbers.

Delta has derailed much of the Northern Hemisphere reopening plans. Their experiences presents us with some indisputable facts on what approach works. Put simply, whilst the virus continues to find a way to circulate, fewer people are getting sick.

We cannot remain Fortress Australia and in a constant state of lockdown.

Businesses of the Northern Beaches, let alone NSW, cannot have another interrupted tourism season. Restaurants need certainty to buy stock, businesses need a clear message to hire new staff, and parents need to know their children will be back learning.

I believe that fully vaccinated people should absolutely be rewarded. Your effort counts for something. You deserve to see you friends and family. To re-engage with one another in our community. To see family, to saviour a summer like none before it.

We have a plan. We must stick to it.

That involves all of us doing our bit. It means getting vaccinated.

If you cannot or do not want to get vaccinated then that is understandable. The willingness of others to do so will provide some comfort to you.

I continue to advocate for increased supply and improving capacity. Day-by-day more and more vaccination venues open, GP’s, Chemists, beauty clinics, in addition to our NSW Health hospitals. Pfizer will be rolling out to 16+ by the end of the month. And the TGA has given approval for 12+ to be vaccinated.

The restrictions on other areas in Sydney put into sharp perspective how lucky we are to have our ocean and beautiful surrounds.

Please, remain vigilant, stay at home except for the few reasons to go out, and where you can, check in on one another.

I appreciate this is truly frustrating and a challenging time for many. I’m feeling it too, but we must hang in there to protect our families and community.

We will get through this. The lockdown will end, and we will get to celebrate our achievements soon.

Stick to the plan. Get vaccinated.

Get vaccinated: https://www.nsw.gov.au/.../get-your-covid-19-vaccination-nsw

Get financial support: https://www.nsw.gov.au/covid-19/financial-support

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