NSW will be the first state in Australia to 'live with Covid' after statistics showed vaccination rates in almost every local government area had reached the target of 70 per cent of the eligible population having received a single dose.
Data collected by Operation Covid Shield on vaccination rates by LGA shows that only Edward River in the south of the state near the Victorian border had not reached the target by October 3.
Even Byron Bay, considered the state's spiritual home for anti-vaccination activists, had reached 72 per cent of its population with one jab, though its fully vaccinated population remains a lowly 41.6 per cent.
Almost every local government area had reached the target of 70 per cent of the eligible population having received a single dose
Incoming NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said on Tuesday NSW's path to re-opening was based on its high vaccination rates. 'We've had one of the fastest vaccination rates in the world, not just in the country,' he said.
Dr. Jamal Rifi administers the Pfizer vaccine to a client at the Belmore Sports Ground vaccination hub in Sydney
Certain parts of the state had reached well over 90 per cent of residents with one dose of vaccine, including Wingecarribee (94.8 per cent), Weddin (95 per cent), Narromine (94.1 per cent) and Cootamundra-Gundagai (94.5 per cent).
In Sydney, many suburbs in the Hills District, north shore and in south-west suburbs such as Cabramatta and Bonnyrigg are all well over 90 per cent of eligible people with one jab.
Areas such as Bogan, Bourke, Brewarrina, Carrathool, Central Darling, Cobar and Coonamble are not included in the LGA data due to their remoteness, which can provide artificially low vaccine dose count records in those areas.
The rise of Dominic Perrottet to the role of NSW Premier on Tuesday has created speculation some aspects of the roadmap out of Covid in the state would change.
Mr Perrottet, part of NSW's 'crisis cabinet', famously opposed an extension of the state's lockdown in July, and has regularly suggested restrictions needed to be eased so business could resume.
'What I commit to doing is sitting down this afternoon after the swearing-in with Minister Hazzard and the health team, alongside Minster Ayres and members of the crisis cabinet, to have a discussion in relation to the roadmap,' Mr Perrottet said during his first press conference as premier.
'But obviously, this is early days. We have done so well my intention at this stage is that that day will remain on Monday next week but there are a number of issues we need to look at and
