More than 40,000 children have already received their first Covid vaccination jab

SA families can walk into the state’s biggest mass jab hub for a child’s Covid-19 vaccine for the first time, as the number of paediatric vaccinations doubled in a week.

Families have been given a two-day window to have their children vaccinated against Covid-19 without a booking at the state’s biggest mass hub.

It comes as SA Health figures reveal that 41,200 children aged five to 11 have had their first Pfizer jab, less than a fortnight after the program launched.

Almost 30 per cent of SA’s 148,253 eligible youngsters are now inoculated after 21,000 extra children were vaccinated last weekend.

“Five to 11 year-old vaccinations have doubled in less than one week – thank you to every single vaccinated superhero for rolling up their sleeves,” Premier Steven Marshall said.

SA Health opened more than 3000 appointments at the weekend at its Wayville clinic, allowing families to have children jabbed without a booking.

An extra 800 slots are available from Sunday and a further 1000 on Monday.

Previously, youngsters could only be vaccinated by appointment but officials say adequate supplies and extra capacity could support paediatric walk-ins, from 8am to 4pm.

General walk-ins are until 8pm.

Jane Parker and daughter Mikayla, 11, who received her first Covid jab at Noarlunga. Picture: Dean Martin

“There’s plenty of appointments for the rest of this weekend, and families are able to walk into Wayville today and tomorrow,” Mr Marshall said.

Youngsters will receive two jabs, eight weeks apart, with each dose a third of the size given to patients older than 12.

Authorities believe 80 per cent of children will be jabbed, but that figure will not be reached before the start of school next week.

Chief public health officer, Nicola Spurrier, said she was “very happy” at the numbers.

She said kids are not from the virus and while Covid-19 symptoms in children are not as severe, she warned a child could suffer long-term effects to their health.

Professor Spurrier especially warned parents of children with pre-existing conditions to get vaccinated immediately due to greater risk of serious disease.

“Vaccination is the best way to reduce your child’s risk of becoming seriously unwell if they catch Covid-19,” she said.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison defended school vaccine rollout supplies.

The state has recorded a sharp fall in daily Covid cases and patients treated in hospital.

Mr Marshall revealed three more Covid-related deaths, all women, aged in their 30s, 80s and 90s, bringing total fatalities to 67. In the past 24 hours, 2193 cases were detected, 830 fewer than Friday’s tally.

There were 23 fewer people in hospital with 275 ICU patients increased by four to 37, seven of whom were ventilated.

Mr Marshall, who flagged new small business cash grants, said hot weather delayed testing on Friday as he cautioned cases will likely spike today.

Senior government sources say wider public restrictions are unlikely to ease over the next three weeks despite hope the Omicron wave has peaked.