Victoria's vaccination target has fallen short, delaying the easing of restrictions by a few days.
But the setback will allow for a "critical" vaccine milestone to be reached, experts claim.
A number of rules will now be lifted from tomorrow night when the state reaches the 80 per cent single-dose target.
READ MORE: Pools reopen as new freedoms come in for Sydney
The state government had initially predicted that milestone would be reached by Sunday.
But epidemiologist Professor Catherine Bennett said the delay was worth the wait.
"Every day matters," Professor Bennett told Today.
"Hitting those targets is critical because it does actually give us that level of protection that we need, but also gives us those extra freedoms that we know now are coming to those particular vaccination levels."
From 11.59pm tomorrow, metropolitan Melbourne's travel limit will increase to 15 kilometres and certain outdoor sports will be able to resume.
READ MORE: Restrictions to ease on Tuesday after Victoria records 779 new cases
Five people who are fully vaccinated plus a vaccinated trainer will be able to take part in personal training outdoors in Melbourne, while adults will be permitted to remove masks at playgrounds to eat and drink.
In regional Victoria, the outdoor venue cap will increase from 20 to 30, and masks will not be required for services including facials and beard trimming in hair and beauty parlours.
But Professor Bennett doesn't think school children will be forced to have the coronavirus vaccine before being allowed to return to classrooms.
"We know that kids, thankfully, while they are as likely to be infected, don't pass the virus on easily as adults, so it makes that school environment a bit safer from what we have learnt from our centre from immunisation research.
Professor Bennett said this "takes the pressure off mandating vaccination" for the group.
"But there is a lot of parents and kids out there who want it," she said.
"The more kids are vaccinated in the younger groups, 12 to 15-year-olds we are talking about, that keeps schools safer and hopefully less disrupted.
"That is the most important thing."
As children begin to return to classrooms in Term 4, the outlook for next year will become clearer, she said.
Victoria recorded 779 new COVID-19 infections and another two deaths yesterday.
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