Vaccines will set us free from virus: PM

The prime minister has been isolating at The Lodge in Canberra after returning from a trip to the United States.

Mr Morrison, who will return home to Sydney, urged fully vaccinated residents in his state to enjoy their restored freedoms with a bevvy of restrictions lifting in NSW.

He also sent a message to people in states that have avoided major lockdowns and rampant outbreaks, like Western Australia and Queensland.

"We need those vaccines to ensure that when COVID inevitably comes, that in those states you will be able to continue on as you have," the prime minister said on Monday.

"So let's keep going, Australia, with the vaccination program."

WA and Queensland trail the nation on double-dose vaccination rates, while the ACT and NSW have a commanding lead ahead of Tasmania and Victoria.

Almost 62 per cent of people aged 16 and above across Australia are fully vaccinated against coronavirus.

There were 496 new local cases and eight deaths reported in NSW on Monday, while Victoria registered 1612 infections and eight fatalities.

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said the focus should shift from daily case rises to hospitalisations as immunisation rates rose.

"The Delta genie is out of the bottle so we've got to learn to live with the virus," he told 2GB radio.

Mr Frydenberg said the effectiveness of lockdowns was being diminished each day the highly contagious variant circulated.

Health Minister Greg Hunt believes health systems in NSW and Victoria are prepared to cope with any rise in cases as restrictions lift.

"What we're doing in Australia is giving ourselves the best chance to get on with our lives. Our hospital systems are well prepared," he told ABC radio.

Mr Hunt said the government was planning for booster shots to be available to everyone if the expert immunisation panel gave the green light at the end of the month.

Up to 500,000 people with severely compromised immune systems gained access to third jabs from Monday to boost their protection.

The health minister said international evidence was showing vaccines were offering strong ongoing protection against hospitalisation, serious illness and death.

NSW lifted restrictions after passing 70 per cent double-dose coverage, a mark locked-down Victoria is expected to reach before the end of the month.

The ACT's lockdown ends on Friday.

Australian Associated Press