The Queensland government will roll out COVID-19 vaccines at Bunnings stores in a bid to boost uptake as the state prepares to eventually reopen the borders.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says her government is finding new ways to bring protection to the state's population and vaccine clinics will begin at Bunnings retailers this weekend.
"So families can get their Bunnings sausage and a dose of vaccine," the premier told parliament on Tuesday.
More than two dozen Bunnings have been identified across the state, stretching from the Gold Coast, inland to Dalby and as far north as Cairns to boost the state's jab rate.
The move comes as the state recorded zero new locally-acquired cases on Tuesday, with one detected in hotel quarantine and three on a marine vessel.
A total of 16,628 vaccines were administered across the state on Monday, and 8929 tests undertaken.
Queensland reached a significant milestone in its vaccination push as the state hit 70 per cent with one dose on Monday and 52.7 per cent fully inoculated.
A home quarantine trial for 1000 stranded residents has also begun as the government begins to address plans for re-opening.
"It is important that we do everything we can to implement strategies that will help manage the virus in our state," Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said on Tuesday.
The home quarantine trial offers an opportunity to evaluate the effectiveness of the program and how it can be expanded, she said.
It is the first sign of the government's plan for allowing interstate travellers back into Queensland, after Ms D'Ath on Monday issued the call for more Queenslanders to get vaccinated.
"The next five to six weeks are crucial," she said.
"That is your mission. Get yourself protected and that helps protect our whole community and allows us to open up."
But the "vague promises" of when the border will reopen should be done away with in favour of a concrete plan, employer organisation the Australian Industry Group says.
"Talking vaguely of a Christmas reopening schedule and then upping the ante on vaccination targets is far from the circuit breaker announcement that the government needs to deliver to encourage people to get the jab," Queensland Head of AI group Rebecca Andrews said on Tuesday.
"We need an unequivocal statement from the premier, backed up by health authorities, that the state border barriers will be removed on the Monday after the state reaches 80 per cent vaccination coverage of all of those eligible to get the jab."
There are 33 active COVID-19 cases in Queensland.
Australian Associated Press
