TAS VACCINE BOOSTER
ROLLOUT STARTS FOR 24,000 KIDS UNDER 15
THE move to protect younger Tasmanians from Covid-19 begins in earnest today as clinics across the state start to vaccinate 12 to 15-year-olds.
The new criteria will make the Pfizer jab available to 24,000 children in the age group as the state continues its push towards a minimum 80 per cent vaccination rate among eligible Tasmanians – and plans to ease travel and border restrictions.
CLOSE to 24,000 Tasmanians under the age of 15 are now eligible for the jab, as the state continues its march towards a double dose vaccination rate of 80 per cent. As of Monday, children between the 12 and 15 can be administered the Pfizer vaccine, following advice from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation. Joseph Ferguson, 15, and younger brother Thomas, 13, were among the lucky few to receive a first dose on Sunday, as the Health Department sought to ensure its processes were running smoothly before the eligibility criteria officially changed. About 24,000 Tasmanian kids have the opportunity to be vaccinated under the new criteria. Joseph and Thomas’s mother, Angelique Ferguson, who, along with her husband, is fully vaccinated, said she felt “a lot better” knowing her sons had received a vaccine dose. “We’ve got four children, so we can’t vaccinate the two youngest ones yet,” Ms Ferguson, of Hobart, said. “So it was a really good opportunity to at least get two thirds of our household vaccinated.” “We certainly don’t want to have [our kids] unvaccinated when you see what’s happened in some of the mainland states.” The health worker said the super clinic was “really well-run”. “It was a really easy process,” she said. “The boys were fine and the monitoring afterwards was really thorough, which was great, as well.”
Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff said he was “very pleased” that younger Tasmanians could now be vaccinated.
“There could be no greater incentive to get vaccinated than to keep yourself, your loved ones and your local community safe,” Mr Rockliff said.
A government spokesman said if a child experienced any of the common symptoms after vaccination – such as a fever or headache – it was acceptable for a parent or guardian to keep them home from school.
As at September 11, Tasmania has administered a total of 508,015 vaccine doses, with 66.6 per cent of the eligible population having received their first dose and 48.5 per cent being fully vaccinated.
Cabinet minister Guy Barnett said the government would mandate that teachers and police be vaccinated if public health advice said such a measure was needed to keep Tasmanians safe from the Delta strain.
“We will cross that bridge when we come to it. We are keeping up with changing circumstances, taking health advice and responding as appropriate,” Mr Barnett said.
He said making vaccines mandatory for all those working in a health care setting was about protecting vulnerable Tasmanians.
To book a Covid-19 vaccine for your child, visit the Tasmanian government’s coronavirus website at coronavirus.tas. gov.au/vaccinationinformation/covid-19-vaccination/ Book-your-vaccine, or call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.