Victoria’s new bid to get kids vaccinated as state records 11,311 cases, 34 Covid deaths

Some of Melbourne’s most famous landmarks will be used to vaccinate certain groups of children in a new change to the rollout.

Melbourne landmarks will soon become vaccine sites as part of a bid to get more children vaccinated as the school year begins.

Melbourne Zoo, Healesville Sanctuary, Legoland and Scienceworks are among the locations that will be known as ‘K-pops’.

Nine locations across the city have already been flagged to become a part of the program with each delivering up to 100 doses to kids every weekend.

Health Minister Martin Foley said the program is aimed to ensure Covid vaccinations are easily accessible to disadvantaged families.

Health Minister Martin Foley addresses the media outside Scienceworks in Spotswood. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Ian Currie

“It’s a fun and enjoyable experience for kids we know who find it hard,” he said.

“We want to make it as exciting as possible.”

The K-pops will at first invitation only for children with potential access issues.

Others served by the program will include children from out of home care, living with disability or in contact with specialist services.

The State Library of Victoria, Melbourne Museum, Immigration Museum, Werribee Open Range Zoo and Sealife Aquarium round out the locations.

More than 98,000 children have been vaccinated through state-run centres since January 10 and another 160,000 were vaccinated at more than 1,200 pharmacies and GPs.

Victoria recorded 11,311 new cases and 34 Covid deaths in the past 24 hours.

There are now 851 infected people in Victorian hospitals, with 106 in intensive care and 30 on ventilators.

More than 93 per cent of eligible Victorians are fully vaccinated and the state has 72,710 active cases.

A total of 23,535 PCR tests were taken on Wednesday and 17,799 vaccines were administered at state hubs.

Deputy Premier James Merlino has detailed a “window of opportunity” the state’s children have to guard against Covid this winter.

Premier Daniel Andrews is expected to give a Covid update on Tuesday. Picture: David Crosling

Mr Merlino said getting kids across the state double-dosed as quickly as possible was paramount for keeping a sense of normality in schools after two years of disruptions.

“I’d like to see (vaccinations) taken up as quickly as possible,” he said.

“I’ve spoken a number of times about the really critical window of opportunity that we have in the southern hemisphere. If we get our kids double-dosed before we head into winter, that is going to be critically important, so I was really encouraged about the last couple of days.”

Mr Merlino also ruled out widespread remote learning, saying the state is now beyond that phase of the pandemic.

“Remote learning, that is an absolute last resort for a particular school who are having significant challenges with staffing for example,” he said.

“Those students who are at home, whether they’re isolating or whether it’s in relation to a very short period for that school, teaching and learning materials will be provided.

“But in terms of statewide remote learning, broad remote learning, we are beyond that.”

Originally published as Victoria’s new bid to get kids vaccinated as state records 11,311 cases, 34 Covid deaths