Teens join NT vax race
4 per cent of 12 to 15-year-olds jabbed in a week
NORTHERN Territory teens have wasted no time rolling up their sleeves, with health authorities confirming 550 vaccinations were given to 12 to 15year-olds in the first week of eligibility.
While it may seem like a low number, Australian Bureau of Statistics figures show the NT has approximately 15,000 people aged 10 to 14.
That works out to almost 4 per cent of all NT teens in that age group jabbed in one week.
The 550 doses were administered to 11.59pm on Friday.
Health Minister Natasha Fyles said the figures showed the Territory’s vaccination rollout was back on track.
“The Territory Labor government has taken the lead as the first jurisdiction in the country to offer Covid-19 vaccination to all children aged 12 and above,” Ms Fyles said.
“It is encouraging to see 550 doses have already been administered to Territory kids aged 12 to 15 in such a short period of time.”
Appointments to receive the Pfizer dose were opened up to the younger cohort amid concerns about the Delta strain’s ability to better spread between children, compared to the original strain of Covid-19.
Concerns remain about the pace of the vaccination rollout in remote communities, with elders and health authorities battling against social media misinformation.
Platforms such as Facebook have been driving hesitancy, even in some of the most remote parts of the Territory.
Yugul Mangi Development Aboriginal Corporation chairman Bobby Numggumajbarr said elders had been working to convince their communities that the shot was worth it.
“It’s really good to have (the vaccine) because it makes you feel OK,” Mr Numggumajbarr said from Ngukurr.
“You’ll have a bit of a sore arm and it’ll make you feel a little bit sick, but that only takes a couple of days; in the end it’ll be OK.”
The NT News and Sunday Territorian have repeatedly requested breakdowns of vaccination rates in remote communities.
Sunrise Health Service acting chief executive Anthony
Beven said while hesitancy varied between different communities, healthcare workers were successfully explaining the benefits of getting the jab.