The ACT should allow children to go back to school based on ACT Vaccination thresholds  and not wait for National Vaccination thresholds as well as have a clear detailed plan for doing so before the start of Term 4.

The following is a statement from today’s ACT government press conference 15th September 2021. The Deputy Chief Health Officer stated that children’s return to school will likely align with NATIONAL vaccination thresholds.  This aligns with Chief Minister Barr’s (recently changed) narrative of now easing restrictions when the nation achieves vaccination thresholds and not when the ACT achieve vaccination thresholds alone. 

Why is the ACT not able to distinguish between opening up the ACT vs. opening up the ACT to other states vs opening up the nation internationally.  These are and should be three separate considerations and stages.

Why exactly are children in the ACT waiting for the vaccination rate of adults in the three most lagging states (Western Australia, South Australia and QLD) to meet a criteria when ACT children have

• a higher vaccination rate in their own state,
• a rate which will be met weeks earlier than national levels, and
• a border to protect them from people travelling from these states?

Sign this petition and have your say if you believe

• Schools re-opening should be based on ACT vaccination thresholds achieved and NOT National vaccination thresholds achieved, 
• A clear detailed plan be presented  to the people of the ACT for re-opening of ACT schools when vaccination target rates are met, by the ACT. 
• And, that a plan should be presented before Term 4 begins.