With only weeks to go until school starts, the rush is on to get children vaccinated against Covid
Less than a third of the state’s 148,253 children aged 5–11 are booked for both doses of the Covid vaccine, and the start of school is only weeks away.
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Extra doses will boost Monday’s launch of the state’s paediatric vaccine program as tens of thousands of children are not booked for a Covid-19 jab just three weeks from the start of the school year.
More than 12,000 children aged between five and 11 will this week receive a first Pfizer dose as authorities scramble to protect youngsters from the raging Omicron variant.
At least 52,000 vaccine appointments are booked for both doses – or less than a third of the state’s 148,253 children aged five to 11 – at 31 vaccination clinics across SA.
Amid concerns of a supply shortage, SA Health has sent a third – or 10,000 of its 30,000 paediatric doses – to GPs and pharmacists to fill slots over the coming weeks.
Premier Steven Marshall, who has returned a negative test while in isolation, will on Monday announce an extra 2000 appointments a week at the state’s biggest mass vaccination hub at Wayville.
SA Health is also investigating dedicated children-only vaccination clinics.
“We’re doing everything we can to be creating more paediatric opportunities,” Mr Marshall said in Facebook statement while in quarantine at his eastern suburbs home.
Education Department officials will today meet with SA Health to thrash out whether students can return to classrooms on January 31.
The Premier will announce a final decision on Friday. Chief public health officer, Nicola Spurrier, said vaccinating children was safe.
“Vaccination is the best way to reduce a child’s risk of becoming seriously unwell if diagnosed with Covid-19,” Professor Spurrier said.
Youngsters will receive two jabs, eight weeks apart, with each dose a third smaller than those received by children over 12.
To reduce anxieties, some clinics will have special children’s only areas with colourful and easy-to-read books explaining vaccines, Prof Spurrier said.
Children will also get “fun stickers” and an illustrated “vaccinated superhero” certificate once double jabbed.
Labor leader Peter Malinauskas called for specialised vaccination clinics in primary schools during the holidays.
Health Minister Stephen Wade dismissed the idea, but said authorities may need to consider it if Omicron peaks as schools return, or if vaccination rates were not high enough.
Mikayla Parker, 11, of Happy Valley, will be among the first patients to get a jab at the Noarlunga mass hub.
She said she was wanting to be “be safe as Covid is growing and I want to help the community”.
On another record day of 4506 cases – 336 self-reported positive rapid-antigen home tests – Mr Marshall said he had returned a negative PCR lab test.
He is a close contact from his infectious daughter Georgie, 22, who is understood to be fine. A further 12 patients are in hospital, bringing the total to 176. Of the 18 intensive care patients – two more in 24 hours – one is fighting for life in a critical condition.
Up to 25 hospital patients are being treated for other health problems. SA Health’s Covid plans will come under the microscope on Monday when its chief executive Chris McGowan gives evidence to an Upper House committee.
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