Leaders in the Aboriginal community of Cherbourg are cautiously optimistic a door-to-door COVID-19 vaccination campaign will help it avoid another lockdown, as rates slowly climb.
Health workers began door-knocking homes in the South Burnett town a week ago, offering free Pfizer vaccinations to people aged over 12.
Cherbourg's low vaccination rates have been a major concern to authorities as the state prepares to relax its border rules by December 17.
The community has one of the lowest vaccination rates in Queensland, with just 26.9 per cent of residents fully vaccinated and 37.7 per cent partially vaccinated, as of November 1.
It's a small jump from the rates of 25 and 33 per cent recorded the previous week, but Darling Downs Health believes rates will increase further this week once more data is processed.
Cherbourg Mayor Elvie Sandow said the community was making progress, with 135 people vaccinated since October 28.
"To be honest, I was worried a couple of weeks ago, but now that they're going around door-knocking I'm actually feeling a bit positive," she said.
"The numbers are going up and we just want them to keep going up. Then everyone can be safe."
Cherbourg's vaccine rate is still significantly lower than many other areas of the state.
West Brisbane has Queensland's highest rate of vaccinated Indigenous people over the age of 15, with around 59 per cent fully vaccinated and 71 per cent partially vaccinated.
In Wide Bay 38 per cent of Indigenous residents are fully vaccinated and 51 per cent have received their first dose.
In the Toowoomba region, the rates are 40 per cent and 53 per cent respectively.
Queensland is working towards a statewide target of 80 per cent full vaccination for residents over 16, with the re-opening date potentially able to be brought forward if it achieves this earlier.
There are concerns some regional areas will lag behind and may be subject to extra restrictions or lockdowns if a COVID outbreak occurs.
Cr Sandow said Cherbourg's residents were desperate to avoid those measures after being locked down for nearly three months last year.
"Our mob don't like to stay home," she said.
"They're shifting their mindset.
"They're realising ... it's a worldwide pandemic, and it's not going to go anywhere."
'Momentum' building
Nurses from Mater Health in Brisbane have been walking and driving around the streets of Cherbourg, knocking on doors and offering jabs to anyone eligible.
NRL player Ash Taylor joined them this week to promote the benefits of vaccines.
Vaccination program manager Catherine Gilbert said the response from residents had been largely positive.
"We've had homes where there's been one person vaccinated ... but there are conversations happening around it," Dr Gilbert said.
"There is a building of momentum when you have that positive experience within an area.
"But there's also been areas where [people are] just not interested or not ready for the vaccination ... and we're very respectful of that."
Darling Downs Health is coordinating the program through the Cherbourg Community Health Service, alongside the Cherbourg Regional Aboriginal & Islander Community Controlled Health Service (CRAICCHS).
DDH COVID response lead Michelle Forrest said the approach allowed people to ask questions about the vaccine and have any concerns addressed.
"We know that there's misinformation, we know that there's hesitancy, and I think having that personal conversation with people makes a difference," Ms Forrest said.
"Every one of our teams has a local Indigenous health worker or a council worker going along with them and that provides that personal connection between local community and the vaccination providers."
The best defence
Arlene Langton from Cherbourg's Us Mob FM radio station said she was initially hesitant to get the vaccine, but was now double-vaccinated after health advice and conversations with family members convinced her.
She was relieved to see more people taking up the offer of a vaccine.
"It's a positive for our mob to all be on board and on the same page and moving forward together," she said.
"I do worry about their wellbeing.
"I keep on saying [the vaccine] is the best defence, the best way to be prepared for when COVID does come this way."