Covid: Which town will get to the pub first?

WHILE Prime Minister Scott Morrison may have said “this is not a race”, with promises of restrictions easing at 70 and 80 percent vaccinated rates, the percentages will decide which towns get back to local sports fields, head down to their pubs, clubs and cafes, can have a BBQ or visit friends and family.   

Many in the hospitality industry are behind a push to get back to business, by requiring all patrons to show their electronic vaccination certificate, so which towns will arrive at the pub first?

Scone and Murrurundi are racing ahead with 30-39% of all eligible residents fully vaccinated.

Singleton, Muswellbrook and Merriwa are at 20-29% and Denman may be last to arrive at the party with only 10-19% of their residents vaccinated.

But Denman may be a dark horse when you consider the trend of residents who have had their first jab and are getting ready to have their second.

Scone and Murrurundi are still leading that race with 50 – 59% people preparing for their second dose and getting ready to download their vaccine passport.

Denman, Merriwa, Aberdeen and Singleton residents aren’t far behind with 40 to 49%, but Muswellbrook is not going so well, with only 30 to 39% of residents having their first shot.

If you are waiting for Pfizer the line is still very long, but savvy punters are jumping the queue with Astra Zeneca.

Remember it takes three weeks after each vaccine for full immunity, so each day you wait is a day later to get out of the house.

Watch the race unfold here: Vaccination rates by postcode.