Head of Australia’s Covid vaccine strategy not ruling out cash incentives to achieve 80% target

Lt Gen John Frewen says demand still exceeds supply but incentives may be needed to counter vaccine hesitancy later in the year

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The head of the country's Covid vaccination program, Lt Gen John Frewen, says the government may yet use cash incentives to encourage take-up, as he says it is mathematically" possible for 80% of eligible Australians to be fully immunised by December.

New targets released by Frewen's taskforce on Tuesday forecast a rapid ramp-up of the vaccination program over the coming months, with Operation Covid Shield planning to use drive-through vaccination clinics, retail hubs and workplace vaccination programs to drive up the national vaccination rate from its current 20% level.