ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr says limits on peoples’ lives may still be a part of life when a high proportion of the territory’s population is vaccinated.

Speaking about the Doherty Institute modelling, he said the report said the “use of lockdowns would be targeted and less frequent at 70 and 80 per cent” but could still be required. He said the report says there will still be a need for masks, social distancing and density limits at these vaccination levels.

“There is also the question of what is meant by 70 and 80 per cent ... about the effective vaccination rate. That being about two to three weeks after you cross the jab threshold,” he said. He said people aged 12 years and above should be factored in to the vaccination rate.

“The other questions in relation to settings of course assume, as the Doherty Institute modelling did, that there would be around 30 active cases. It is unlikely based on what we are seeing out of NSW and Victoria that we would be back down to 30 ... by the time we get our vaccination rate to 70 or 80 per cent effective vaccination,” he said.

He said this was a discussion about what would happen several months in the future, given ACT has only just reached 60 per cent of first doses received, but there were several points to work through.

“We need to be using up to date population figures not data that is more than a year old,” he said.

He also warned off “broad brush language” of opening up, which shouldn’t be taken to mean there won’t be any protections put in place in future.

He said the ACT was currently more exposed to the NSW outbreak because of the territory’s geographic location.

“Our risk is somewhat greater than most other states and territories,” he said.

“I know we are not going to be able to vaccinate everyone,” he said, pointing out those with health, ideological and religious reasons for not being immunised. “What will support those people will be the efforts of everyone else.”

He said he was still concerned there wasn’t a vaccine available for those under 12 and they would remain vulnerable.