Chief medical officer slams Annastacia Palaszczuk’s ‘vulnerable’ child Covid claim

Australia’s top health adviser has forensically demolished Annastacia Palaszczuk’s claim that “every child is vulnerable” to Covid if state borders are opened.

Australia’s top health adviser has forensically demolished Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk’s claim that “every child is vulnerable” to Covid if state borders are opened.

Amid a national furore over Queensland’s decision to refuse to allow a three-year-old boy trapped in NSW with his grandparents to reunite with his mum and dad, the Queensland Premier has sparked anger with her claim that “every single child” under 12 is at risk.

Delivering a dose of facts at a press conference in Canberra, chief medical officer Paul Kelly said the facts on children’s vulnerability to the virus was clear. Even if they contract the virus, they are less likely to be hospitalised or become seriously ill compared to adults.

“What do we know about Delta and children? Children in general do not get severe illness. I’ll give you some absolute data from as recently as last night’s look at our national notifiable diseases data,” Prof Kelly said.

“There have been cases in children. There have, in fact, been, since 1 January this year until last night, there have been 3,815 cases of Delta virus infection in children under the age of 12.

“But let’s look behind those data and look at the severity of illness. There have been 134 hospitalisations, 3.5 per cent hospitalisation rate. And we know from New South Wales data that most of the kids that have been admitted to hospital have been for social reasons, not because they are particularly unwell – their parents are sick and can’t look after them.

“So the hospitalisation rate is small and most of those are not because of severe illness. There have only been three children under the age of 12 admitted to intensive care. Three out of 3,815, way less than one in 1,000.”

The Queensland Government will not grant an exemption to three-year-old Memphis Francis, who is trapped in NSW, to be reunited with his parents. Picture: Ginette Guidolin

Chief medical officer Paul Kelly has forensically demolished Annastacia Palaszczuk’s claim that “every child is vulnerable”. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Martin Ollman

Prof Kelly also noted that there had been no deaths of younger children from Covid in Australia.

“There’s been no deaths in under 12s, is very different to what we’re seeing in adults and even in older children. So the disease in children is very different from what we’re seeing in adults,” he said.

“My clear message today is if you are a parent, particularly a parent of a younger child, get vaccinated. This is the way you can protect yourself and protect your children.

“We’re not ignoring children. Children are part of the whole plan, not only in the vaccination and soon the vaccination of 12- to 15-year-olds, but also in the way we’re looking at that cocooning effect that we can get from vaccination as it increases and it is increasing incredibly rapidly now right across Australia.”

We must do everything possible to keep Queenslanders safe from Delta, especially our children. #covid19pic.twitter.com/1kAJuibkWr

— Annastacia Palaszczuk (@AnnastaciaMP) September 1, 2021

Queensland Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk told the state this week that children under 12 were at risk.

“You open up this state and you let the virus in here and every child under 12 is vulnerable, every single child,” she told the Queensland parliament.

Ms Palaszczuk demanded more research be presented on the dangers of Covid-19 for kids before she would agree to reaffirm her commitment to the national plan.

“I want to see a paper. I don’t want to see a slide show, I want to see detailed information,” she said.

“I want to know what is going to happen to the children of this state.”

Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Ms Palaszczuk was deluded. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Martin Ollman

“It’s a desperate denial of reality and is not based on medical advice,” Mr Frydenberg said. Picture: NCA NewsWire/Sarah Marshall

But Treasurer Josh Frydenberg said Ms Palaszczuk was deluded, as medical advice clearly indicated the national reopening plan was safe for Australia’s children.

“She said she’s scared for Queensland kids, does that wash with you?” Sunrise host David Koch asked Mr Frydenberg.

“No. It’s a desperate denial of reality and is not based on medical advice,” the Treasurer replied.

Dose of hope

Health Minister Greg Hunt said today that Australia has hit the 20 million dose mark for vaccines today.

“Points of hope and light for Australia and I want to thank every Australian who has come forward so far,” he said.

“In the last 24 hours, that’s over 330,000 vaccinations and in addition to the 20 million there are other important milestones.”

A majority of Australians aged over 16 have now been vaccinated and Australia is on track to hit the first target of having 70 per cent of adults vaccinated.

According to the latest figures 60.5 per cent of Australians 16 plus have had a first dose. One in three have had a second dose.

“Very importantly, amongst other over-50s, we are on the cusp of having 80 per cent of our over-50s having had a first dose,” he said.

“Those figures tell us we’re not just on the way, but we are making real and significant progress and each one of those vaccinations is a protection now and a protection for others now. It’s also a significant individual step towards achieving the goals and targets of the national plan.”