NSW school return ‘non negotiable’ as child Covid vaccination begins

More than two million kids are now eligible to get vaccinated as Premier Dominic Perrottet made it clear when school will return.

Droves of young children will roll up their sleeves and get their Covid-19 jab from Monday as Premier Dominic Perrottet doubled-down on his promise to reopen schools on the first day of term one.

About 2.3 million children aged five to 11-years-old will be immunised from Monday at pharmacies, vaccination hubs, and GP clinics across NSW.

Immunisation and rapid antigen tests will be at the crux of the school reopening plan which Mr Perrottet said is being finalised.

“These tests will be crucial to making sure we get kids back to school on day one, term one. We are finalising our back-to-school plans at the moment,” he said on Sunday.

“We are completely committed to doing that… it is crucial that kids are back into school on day one. We will be raising those plans with the federal government at national cabinet.”

About 2.3 million children aged five to 11 will be immunised from today. Picture: ANP/AFP

Mr Perrottet said he was expecting differences in the back-to-school plan from various states at the national cabinet meeting on Wednesday.

Queensland has made its position of delaying the return to school clear.

“We have worked over the last week comprehensively with NSW Health and the department of education on our back-to-school plans,” Mr Perrottet said. “It’s a non-negotiable that kids go back on day one, term on in a safe environment for teachers, parents and students.

“I have obviously seen the comments the Queensland Premier has made. There may be differences but if we can agree on national principals, I’d certainly support that.”

NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet speaks to the media at Nepean Hospital. Picture: Flavio Brancaleone

People using rapid tests will be legally required to register their result on the Service NSW app from mid-week with the government working to finalise what penalties will apply to those who don’t comply.

The premier’s commitment to reopen schools came despite another 30,062 cases and 16 deaths recorded in NSW on Sunday.

Hospitalisations climbed to 1927 while 151 people were being treated in intensive care.

Federal health minister Greg Hunt assured families that they will be able to get their children vaccinated despite concerns that appointments were disappearing quickly.

“We have approximately two million doses that are available over the course of the coming weeks and then that will be supplemented by an additional million,” he said.

Nine-year-olds Jacob Meddows, Alex Nguyen, and Jemma Khong are excited to get the jab. Picture: Toby Zerna

Nine-year-old Alex Nguyen said he was excited to join his older brother and sister by getting the jab.

“I’ve heard that the needle doesn’t hurt but now I’m a bit scared of the after effects because they say it hurts your arms and I use my arms a lot,” he said.

Ermington mum Tania Khong was able to get a booking for daughter Jemma, 9, on Tuesday because of a cancellation.

“With the transmission rate being so high, it gives me comfort. Ideally, I’d have her full vaccinated going back to school which won’t be possible but I’m glad she will have it sooner rather than later,” she said.