Children urged to get vaccinated as outbreaks spread at school

Public health are urging parents to ensure their children are vaccinated as outbreaks continue to spread at schools across the state. LATEST >>

With the death of another Tasmanian with Covid – the 26th since the pandemic started - public health is pleading for 17,000 unvaccinated children to get their first dose.

A man aged in his 90s died in a northern aged care facility and Public Health confirmed there are currently Covid cases at two other residential aged care homes in the south.

As face mask restrictions begin to be lifted, 941 new infections were recorded taking the number of active Covid cases across the state to 5585.

Covid emergency co-ordination commander Dale Webster said Tasmania had the lowest number of hospitalisations and deaths per capita in Australia but more children needed to be vaccinated and people should get their boosters.

Lucas Watson 11 receives his Covid 19 vaccination from Nurse Immuniser Jen Graves at Brighton. Picture: Chris Kidd

“We need to maintain our high levels of vaccination heading into the winter respiratory illness season or we will see more severe illness and hospitalisation rates across Tasmania,” he said.

“Overall we’ve done a fantastic job but it’s important we finish the job we started 12 months ago.

“Our focus is to get to 100 per cent so everyone is protected but particularly our vulnerable Tasmanians.

“It’s going to be in our community for a long time, probably forever, so getting that maximum level of protection across the Tasmanian community has to be our focus.”

More than 27,500 children aged 5-11 will be eligible for their second dose in coming weeks.

At Bridgewater on Saturday, classmates Lucas Watson and Charlotte Howes both born on the same day 11 years ago had their second vaccination.

Tasmanian Vaccination Emergency Operations Centre Nursing Director Nikki Lane at Brighton. Picture: Chris Kidd

Lucas’s mother Nicky Lennon said there had been a few cases at his school.

“He’ll be better protected and it is comforting to know he is fully vaccinated,” she said.

Charlotte’s mother Lisa Howes said she was pleased everyone in the family was now fully vaccinated.

“We didn’t have any doubts about getting it done because it gives us peace of mind,” she said.

Since February last year, more than 1.2m doses of vaccine have been given.

Mr Webster said more than 99 per cent of Tasmanians aged over 12 have had at least one dose and almost 97 per cent were fully vaccinated.

“This has been key to the State having the lowest number of hospitalisations per capita in the country, and also the lowest number of Covid deaths per capita in the nation,” he said.

Mr Webster said it was “puzzling” why 17,000 children aged 5-11 had not had their first vaccination.

He said some parents may be worried about whether the vaccine was safe and that their children were “needle phobic”.

“It has been fully tested worldwide, it is safe and effective,” Mr Webster said.

There are Covid outbreaks at 73 Tasmanian schools and Mr Webster urged busy parents to take half an hour out of their week to get their children vaccinated.

He said vaccination of younger children was lower in regional Tasmania with the North-West 10 per cent down on the South.

Mr Webster said vaccinations would be available at district high schools and support schools in the coming weeks.