A handful of Victorian towns have defied the state's sluggish Covid vaccine rollout - with more than 75 per cent of adults in one seaside village double jabbed, racing ahead of Melbourne's idling 39 per cent full-vaccination rate.
Under the federal government's national Covid-exit plan, lockdowns will become rare once 70 of over 16s are fully vaccinated, with further freedoms - such as domestic and overseas travel - to resume from 80 per cent.
Queenscliffe, a 3000-strong port south-west of the state capital, has hit an impressive pace with 95.9 per cent of the population having received one dose and three in four residents having received their second.
Surf Coast, in the state's south west, and Buloke, in the west, are next on track to hit the national target, with almost 60 per cent of residents double vaccinated, well above the 34.3 per cent national average.
Regional Victoria, which has a 47.5 per cent double-dose rate, has been steaming ahead of Greater Melbourne (39 per cent), despite Covid outbreaks largely being confined within metropolitan areas.
Only a handful of LGAs in Greater Melbourne - such as Boorondara, Mornington Peninsula, Nillumbik, Glen Eira - have breached the 50 per cent fully-vaccinated mark - while the rest are hovering between 30-46 per cent.
This map of Victoria shows first dose vaccination rates across the state, with more than 50 per cent of residents in some parts of locked-down Melbourne yet to receive one Covid jab
Melbourne City Council is faring the worst in the state - with just 28.8 per cent of eligible locals rolling up their sleeves for both doses.
But Myriads of LGAs across regional Victoria fall within the 50-56 per cent fully-vaccinated bracket, including Greater Geelong, Yarriambiack, Alpine, Strathbogie, Central Goldfields, Ararat, Mount Alexander, Bass Coast, Southern Grampians, Warrnambool, Benalla, Hepburn, Macedon Ranges, and East Gippsland.
The crawling vaccination rate is unwelcome news for the millions of Melbournians under strict stay-at-home orders - only permitting them to leave for essential reasons - as authorities grapple to contain Covid outbreaks.
Shepparton, which had been the only other area under lockdown, will be released with its restrictions to mirror the rest of the regions from midnight on Wednesday after a local outbreak was brought under control.
Meanwhile, Ballarat residents will join Melbourne's restrictions - bar the curfew- for seven days from 11.59pm Wednesday after four cases, multiple exposure sites and wastewater detections in the area.
Earlier this month, Premier Daniel Andrews announced restrictions would remain in place until 70 per cent of eligible Victorians have received one dose of a Covid-vaccine - expected to be hit on September 23 - but is yet to detail what measures would be lifted.
While the nation's vaccine rollout has been hampered by limited supplies - the issue has been exacerbated in Victoria after the federal government diverted doses to NSW as it battles the biggest Delta outbreak in the country.
Millions of Melbournians are enduring the city's sixth lockdown, as the state's slow vaccine rollout delays their freedom. Pictured: People are seen fishing in Melbourne on Tuesday
Victoria, where cases remain high after 423 new infections on Wednesday, is now more than three weeks behind NSW in reaching the 70 per cent double dose target, which the northern state expects to hit in mid-October.
Statewide, only around 40 per cent of eligible Victorians are fully vaccinated and around 65 per cent have had their first dose - compared to 47.5 per cent and 79.5 per cent, respectively, in NSW.
As Melbourne endures its gruelling sixth lockdown, Mr Andrews has come under fire for failing to provide clarity over what freedoms Victorians will enjoy once vaccination targets are met.
Last week, VIC opposition Leader Matthew Guy called on the government to start drawing up plans out of lockdown, like the Covid roadmap devised by NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian.
In NSW, fully-vaccinated people will be able to visit family and friends who've been double jabbed, dine out, travel and go to the hairdresser, gym or sports events at a 70 per cent double-dose jab rate.
On Wednesday, Premier Daniel Andrews confirmed the state's roadmap out of lockdown will be released on Sunday.
The roadmap, outlining restrictions through to November, will rely on Burnet Institute
