While he believed the peak infection period had passed, Dr Gerrard said the virus was “absolutely everywhere” in Queensland and everyone would inevitably be exposed.

Of the 21 deaths, four were unvaccinated and two had received only one dose.

The state recorded a total 8508 new cases of COVID-19, including 2730 from rapid antigen tests.

Dr Gerrard said between 150 and 200 Queenslanders were being admitted to hospitals with COVID-19 every day. But the numbers were gradually declining.

There are 46 people in intensive care and 727 people in hospital across the state.

More than 70 per cent of Queenslanders older than 70 had received their booster shots, Dr Gerrard said, pleading with anyone eligible to get their shots as soon as possible.

“It distresses me greatly every day to be reporting on older Queenslanders dying without having received their booster,” he said.

“We know that booster, that third dose of vaccine, is critical in protecting us, particularly older people.

“I just cannot state this often enough: As we get older our immunity system matures and changes such that we respond to new viruses in a different way.

“And we know that older people are particularly susceptible to effects of this virus.”

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As of January 20, a third of Queensland’s aged care facilities were still waiting to be visited by a vaccine booster team.

According to Federal Health Minister Greg Hunt that was “well ahead of schedule”, but his office would not release what schedule he was referring to.

The Commonwealth now says 99 per cent of nursing homes have been visited nationwide.

If there were hold-ups in certain facilities, Dr Gerrard encouraged families to seek out vaccine providers for their loved ones outside the aged care system, if possible.

The speed of the rollout slowed down significantly over the Christmas and New Year period. For example, the January 4 daily update provided by the Commonwealth showed only seven jabs were delivered across Queensland on that day.

Early last year, while announcing the imminent first phase of Australia’s vaccine rollout, Mr Hunt said the government’s approach was clear: “Under promise and over deliver.”

It was one of four principles, along with safety, confidence and a “swift but safe” rollout, fundamental to getting Australia vaccinated and through the pandemic.

Defence Minister Peter Dutton said on Friday the Australian Defence Force could be deployed to assist in aged care if required.

One of the biggest workforce challenges in relation to boosters was having enough staff to supervise recipients for the mandatory 15 minutes after they received their shot.

In public vaccination hubs, one or two staff members can supervise dozens of people. But in locked-down aged care facilities this must be done one on one.