# Capture — decreases transmission

- **Claim filed:** The higher the vaccination rate, “it decreases transmission in the community.” Also: at 70–80% coverage, lockdowns “highly unlikely.”
- **Who:** Greg Hunt, 2 September 2021; Scott Morrison, August 2021 (Doherty National Plan)
- **URL:** https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-greg-hunt-mp/media/press-conference-in-canberra-on-2-september-2021-about-the-vaccination-rollout-and-national-plan-for-covid-response
- **Date:** 2 September 2021
- **Publisher:** Department of Health
- **Captured:** 2026-08-14

## Verbatim (Hunt, 2 September 2021)

> So, the more people that we vaccinate and the higher that vaccination rate in that wider community, it decreases transmission in the community. It protects children.

## The National Plan slogan

Guardian, 22 August 2021 — `guardian-80-2021-08-22.html`  
https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2021/aug/22/high-covid-case-numbers-should-not-delay-australias-reopening-pm-says

Morrison: once the population is above **70% and 80%** vaccination, lockdowns do “**more harm than good**.” Asked if that ends lockdowns: “**highly unlikely** and targeted.”

Doherty modelling underwrote the National Plan. Prof James McCaw told Guardian Australia case numbers were too high to abandon lockdowns even at 70%.

## The other meter

TGA approval day (already filed under `2021/ninety-five-per-cent`): **unclear** if the vaccine reduces transmission. Omicron later spread through a double-dosed country.

## What this file does not do

It does not file “vaccines do not reduce severe disease.” It files “decreases transmission” as a community switch, and “80% then lockdowns highly unlikely” as the reopen slogan.