Health says 80% Indigenous COVID vaccination projected for January as gap closes

It comes as more than 20 Indigenous leaders and health professionals called for an urgent meeting with Prime Minister Scott Morrison to address the issue in an open letter published on Friday.

While the nation's double dose vaccination rate surpassed 76 per cent on Friday, the rate for Indigenous Australians remained at 50.4 per cent as of Friday morning.

Health Department officials told Labor senator Malarndirri McCarthy in an estimates hearing on Friday that work was being done to reduce the disparity between the groups.

First assistant secretary Dr Lucas de Toca said that based on the existing rate, Indigenous Australians would reach an 80 per cent first dose rate by the start of December and the 80 per cent double dose target by January's first week.

"We are continuing the acceleration efforts so that number has changed," Dr de Toca said.

"It has been brought forward recently so we expect that will continue to change for the better."

He cautioned the projections were a "blunt" forecasting tool that were subject to change but they still showed the situation had been drastically improving.

"For nearly three weeks now, the proportion of first doses every day going to First Nations people has been above population parity," he said.

"A high proportion of first doses are now going to Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people than they are to other Australians.

"While still quite substantial, that gap is closing."

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But community leaders are still concerned not enough is being done to address some of the barriers halting the rollout out to First Nations people around the country.

In a letter to Mr Morrison from Indigenous community and academic leaders, including Professors Peter Yu and Marcia Langton, the group called for the immediate development and publication of an agreed strategy in order to prevent "catastrophic" harm done to the community.

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander social justice commissioner June Oscar said she supported the letter, adding she acknowledged the commitment by governments that vaccinating Indigenous communities was a high priority.

But more action was needed, including targeted and door-to-door campaigns, community meetings and information in local languages.

"Catastrophe is avoidable - it will require effective and targeted measures to close the gap in vaccination rates for First Nations Australians and a commitment by Australian governments to vaccine parity before we open up the country," she said.

"We need localised data on vaccine rates so we can understand where to target resources and substantially increase vaccination rates for all our communities across Australia.

"And we need both state and federal governments to take accountability and provide significant investment to First Nations health and community organisations so they can lead approaches that ensure the community's safety."