Federal government data released on Monday shows 61.1 per cent of people aged 15 and over have received at least their first vaccine, while 38.2 per cent of people are fully vaccinated.

After leading the nation in first doses of vaccine administered early in August, Bendigo now sits behind Geelong (61.4 per cent) within Victoria, as well as Launceston and several locations in Sydney where the ongoing Delta outbreak has prompted large numbers of residents in some areas to seek out vaccinations in record numbers.

More news: Bendigo burglar pleads guilty to New Year's crime spree

Bendigo Community Health Services director of Primary Health Care Services Graem Kelly said these rates were a credit to the community.

"It's great to see people coming forward and seeking to get vaccinated and that has helped us get to the rates we're at," he said.

"BCHS is most pleased with the number of individuals that have even had their second doses of both Pfizer and AstraZeneca.

"We're expecting, once the Commonwealth approves medical practices to start vaccination16-year-olds and older, we'll get an onslaught of individuals seeking to get the vaccine.

Mr Kelly said BCHS and their clinics had administered around 3200 doses of both COVID-19 vaccines to date.

A Bendigo Health spokes person congratulated the community on their efforts and said it was important to keep the momentum going.

"Bendigo Health encourages all eligible people to get the vaccine," they said.

More news: Bendigo Health staff join forces to help with COVID-19 testing in Shepparton

Prime Minister Scott Morrison warned continued lockdowns would cause more harm than good when COVID-19 vaccination coverage reached 70 per cent.

The prime minister insists Doherty Institute modelling, which underpinned a fraying national agreement for easing restrictions, is solid.

Mr Morrison said negative economic and mental health impacts would outweigh benefits when 70 and 80 per cent immunisation coverage was reached.

"That's the advice, that's the basis for the plan. We've all signed up to it, we need to get on with it," he told the Seven Network on Tuesday.

Court news: Jayden Pearce pleads guilty to series of Bendigo burglaries, thefts

Bendigo remains one on the nation's best performers in the vaccination stakes, and is second only to Geelong for any regional area in terms of vaccinations delivered.

Australia has fully vaccinated 30.27 per cent of its population aged 16 and over and 52.78 have received one jab.

In a statement, the Doherty Institute said opening up at hundreds of cases nationally a day would be possible at 70 per cent vaccination coverage.

"However, we will need vigilant public health interventions with higher case loads," it said.

The institute said hitting that vaccination rate would make it easier to live with the virus, similar to the flu.

"However, it won't be possible to maintain a situation where there are no cases at all."

Epidemiologist Tony Blakely said Australia would have to learn to deal with high case numbers.

"We're probably going to have case numbers in NSW or Victoria of 5000 or 10,000," he told Nine.

"But so many of them will be vaccinated and just be mild breakthrough infections.

"Australian National University researchers argue at least 90 per cent of all Australians, including children, must be vaccinated before fully relaxing public health measures and opening the international border."

"We found substantial morbidity and mortality is likely to occur if the Australian government sticks to the national plan," Professor Quentin Grafton said.

The Doherty modelling calls for gradual steps at 70 and 80 per cent with high- quality preventative measures remaining in place.

Victoria recorded

Victoria has recorded 51 new coronavirus cases on Monday, including 50 in the community and one in hotel quarantine.

Bendigo's COVID-19 vaccination centre will offer Pfizer jabs to people aged 16 to 39 years of age, after Premier Daniel Andrews announced the age bracket was eligble for the vaccine from Wednesday.

- with AAP

Our journalists work hard to provide local, up-to-date news to the community. This is how you can access our trusted content: