Families in race to vaccinate 500,000 Victorian kids before new school year

Some of the youngest Victorians have bravely rolled up their sleeves after becoming eligible for their first Covid vaccine.

Victoria’s youngest are rolling up their small sleeves this morning, with millions of children across the country now eligible for their first Covid vaccine.

Children aged five to 11 can now receive their first dose of the paediatric Pfizer vaccine at more than 15 vaccination clinics ­already decked out with toys, books and play equipment.

Meanwhile, Victoria has announced 34,808 new Covid infections and two deaths, with rapid tests now making up half the results reported.

Lincoln 5, sits on his mother’s lap to receive his first vaccination. Picture: David Caird

Sophia 7, sticks her mane on the Vaccination Tree after her injection. Picture: David Caird

Thousands of parents and children headed straight to state-run vaccination hubs, GPs and pharmacies on Monday morning — some without a booking.

Tom Roberton and his son, Jack, 5, woke up early Monday morning to queue up at the CoHealth vaccination clinic in West Melbourne.

Jack rode his way over to the clinic on his red scooter and was “really excited” to finally get vaccinated.

Parents and children line up at a West Melbourne vaccination clinic on Monday. Picture: David Caird

“I think Jack’s on the wait list somewhere but there’s no guarantee. We want to get him vaccinated as soon as possible,” Mr Roberton said.

The five-year-old said he wanted to get vaccinated to help protect his immunocompromised younger brother.

“My brother’s only two,” he said.

Covid vaccination commander Lieutenant General John Frewen encouraged parents on Monday to shop around.

“What I’d say to parents is: If they can’t get an appointment in with their primary health provider, their GP, then they should try around the pharmacies, they should try at some of the state and territory clinics,” he told ABC News Breakfast.

“There is enough vaccine and there are enough points of distribution. It’s just about a little bit of patience.

“It’s sometimes hard to predict exactly where the demand will be.”

KIDS’ JABS YET TO ARRIVE

Parents heading to state-run vaccination hubs for their child’s first Covid vaccine on Monday were lucky to have snapped up a booking.

Melbourne GP Balwyn Health Care was due to start vaccinating children on Monday but their paediatric doses were yet to arrive.

With no jabs at the ready, Dr Mary-Anne Lancaster said she was forced to cancel appointments.

“We’re going to have to cancel, as are a lot of other clinics, the kids today,” she told 3AW.

“Our receptionists absolutely cop it from the patients unfortunately … but it is totally out of our control.”

The frustrated GP said she would be willing to drive to the doses herself but she has been prevented from collecting them.

“We have not been able to contact the centre, they won’t answer our calls, they won’t answer the emails and we’re not allowed to go pick them up ourselves, which we’ve often done in the flu vaccine, when there’s been problems with delivery.”

With supply shortages forcing other frustrated GPs to cancel appointments, some families were reported to have spent the morning scrambling, queuing up at vaccination clinics across town to try their luck walking in.

THUMBS-UP FOR KID-FRIENDLY HUBS, SHOWBAGS

Upon walking into the enchanted “forest of protection” deep within state-run vaccination hubs, Victoria’s little ones quickly become less nervous to receive their first Covid jab.

Children were greeted by colourful stickers of kangaroos, koalas and echidnas on mint green walls before having to roll up their sleeves.

Every child vaccinated at a state-run clinic offering paediatric doses will receive a show bag full of goodies – including a colouring-in book, stickers and fidget spinners – to calm the nerves.

Six-year-old Alexa said she was not nervous to receive her Covid jab, remembering the vaccinations she received when she was younger.

“I feel happy now,” Alexa said.

She was enamoured with the hub’s forest and nature theme.

“I think it’s cool that they have an aquarium.”

Alexa, 6, looks through her #jabdone show bag with her dad Pat before getting her injection. Picture: David Caird

Alexa’s dad Pat Harding said it was “challenging” to make the appointment for his daughter, having called the hotline multiple times to be told bookings were not being taken despite the system having gone live.

While he praised the kid-friendly space and the staff, Mr Harding said the process could have been “faster”.

“We had to wait an hour and a half with no chairs,” he said. “It’s not ideal but she’s a real trooper.”

Mum Jenny Nguyen, on the other hand, had no trouble locking in her eight-year-old son Zac’s appointment on Wednesday afternoon via the online booking system.

She said above all else she felt “relieved” three of her kids were on their way to being fully vaccinated, with only her two-year-old to go.

“I think they’ll be alright if they caught Covid but I’d prefer them not to,” she said.

The mum added that the showbags and theme were “completely unexpected” but a lovely surprise.

Karen Gibbs and her children at the Frankston jab hub. Picture: Aaron Francis

KIDS’ JAB HUBS DOUBLED

The number of state-run ­clinics offering child-friendly vaccines was doubled in a bid to vaccinate more than 500,000 ­Victorian children before school starts.

Acting Premier Jacinta Allan announced an 18 additional hubs would offer paediatric vaccines, with a total of 36 hubs across Victoria now on track to administer Pfizer doses to younger people.

More than 35,000 vaccination bookings have been made at state-run centres across Melbourne, Geelong and regional areas such as Shepparton and Ballarat, in addition to appointments at GPs and pharmacies.

Ms Allan said there were still thousands of appointments available despite an early surge in demand before the rollout.

“It’s really pleasing to see that really strong response from the Victorian community,” Ms Allan said.

“There are currently 46,780 appointments that are available for these five to 11-year-old vaccinations right now.

The sooner those spots are taken, we’ll be able to add more spots for young children to get their vaccination.”

Chiara Cartwright shows a vial of the Covid vaccine to Nathan Edwards, Elijah Gibbs and William Edwards. Picture: Aaron Francis

The Victorian child vaccination blitz comes as Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk announced schools would remain closed to junior students for an extra two weeks, with term one to begin on February 7 instead of January 24 as the state managed a dramatic increase in Omicron cases.

Victorian Health Minister Martin Foley on December 31 confirmed that school holidays here would not be extended by a week.

Parents and children who were able to make a vaccination appointment amid initial high demand will be greeted with the hubs’ forest and nature theme, designed to provide a comforting environment for the children.

With 578,000 Victorian children aged between five and 11, pop-up sites will also be set up across the state.

Fifteen vaccination hubs across metropolitan and regional areas will offer disability access and additional support for children with autism.

Children aged five to 11 should receive two Pfizer doses, eight weeks apart.

Frankston mum Karen Gibbs said it was “so important” her three boys were vaccinated as all three suffered from asthma.

Premature births also left Nathan, 9, and William, 7, with weak lungs.

“This is one way to make sure they’re safe. They’ve all got weak lungs,” she said.

“I hope everyone else books in their kids as well.”

Appointments at state hubs can be made online or through the Covid hotline.