Victorian students aged 12 and over to be jabbed at school in vaccine push

Students aged 12 and over will soon be able to get Covid jabbed at school, nudging the state closer to its next major vaccine target.

Students will need parental consent or be assessed as a ‘mature minor’ to get the jab. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Andrew Henshaw.

Victorian children will be able to get the jab during school days under a new push to boost the rollout to those aged over 12.

Education Minister James Merlino will on Saturday announce that GPs in the state’s Doctors in Secondary Schools program will be accredited to administer Covid vaccines.

The change means schools opting into the program will allow for students to get the jab during school hours where needed.

About 70,000 Victorian students are given access to a GP each year under the program and this can now include vaccination.

Schools covered under the scheme include those in booming growth suburbs at the city’s edge and classes in regional areas.

Families in these areas often face hurdles in accessing convenient healthcare and in finding clinics that provide jabs.

Students aged 12 and over can roll up their sleeves and get the Covid vaccine at school. Picture: NCA NewsWire / David Geraghty

Boosting the rollout among those aged 12 and over will be crucial in Victoria opening up, with the next threshold for freedom to be met when 90 per cent of the population in this age bracket are vaccinated.

Students will need parental consent or to be assessed as a “mature minor” with authority to accept the doses from the GP.

Another 70 schools sites are already being used for pop-up clinics on weekends in areas of need.

More than 22,000 Victorians have been vaccinated at these locations.

It comes as Australia waits for TGA approval on when children under 12 may be able to receive the jab.

This could then be rolled out quickly across school sites to ensure as many children are safely vaccinated while returning to classrooms.

Earlier this week Premier Daniel Andrews revealed he and his New South Wales counterpart would push to discuss child vaccines at national cabinet on Friday.

He hinted the two states could work together on this part of the rollout but would not be drawn on how this could be done.

Students will need parental consent or be assessed as a ‘mature minor’ to get the jab. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Andrew Henshaw.

“Victoria and NSW are in very similar circumstances and it’s very important that we provide that leadership given the unique experiences we’ve been through,” he said.

“It would be great to think that we could make a dent into that (vaccinating young children) before the school year ended, rather than having them out and about all over the summer, doing what kids do, having fun, but without the protection of being at least first dosed.”

Meanwhile Western Australia yesterday announced it will reopen its border when the state hits 90 per cent double vaccinated towards the end of summer.

Education minister James Merlino said: “Our Doctors in Secondary Schools are a vital resources for so many Victorian students, making healthcare more accessible.

“Accrediting our fantastic GPs to give the coronavirus vaccine will remove the barrier to more students protecting themselves and our community.”