Bookings set to open for Covid-19 vaccinations for primary school kids
The date Covid vaccinations will be made available for primary school children has been revealed. Find out when you can make a booking. LATEST DETAILS >>
Tasmania
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PARENTS will be able book vaccinations for their primary school-aged children from Monday, Tasmania's Health Minister says.
The appointments will be for vaccinations at special children's clinics.
These appointments will be available from January 10 with the aim of giving every primary school-aged child the opportunity to get at least one dose of the Covid-19 vaccine before they return to school in February.
Clinics will be held at community locations across the state. The vaccines for primary school-aged children are not mandatory.
The special pediatric dose of the vaccine is one-third of the size approved for people aged 12 and over.
Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian who will be asked to give written consent for the child to be vaccinated.
“While children are at lower risk of serious illness from Covid-19, we know that children and young people experience the highest rates of infection and are the biggest spreaders from household to household because of their high levels of social activity," Health Minister Jeremy Rockliff said.
“By getting vaccinated, children will not only be less likely to pass the virus on to others, but it will also make it less likely that children will experience disruption to their schooling, sports, and other activities."
Bookings can be made from December 13 by visiting www.coronavirus.tas.gov.au/vaccine
For further information or assistance, call the Public Health Hotline on 1800 671 738.
Covid jabs on the way for primary school kids
PRIMARY school children in Tasmania should be able to get the Pfizer vaccine as soon as next month now the Therapeutic Goods Administration has provisionally approved that cohort for the jab.
Premier Peter Gutwein sai the vaccine would be rolled out as quickly as possible and reassured parents that the start date of the new school year was unlikely to be delayed by the new vaccine focus.
“The date when the rollout will begin here in Tasmania will depend on final ATAGI advice but the aim will be to commence from January 10, subject to all approvals being in place,” Mr Gutwein said.
“I encourage parents to get their children vaccinated when the vaccine becomes available in Tasmania to further protect your family and your community.
“We are still planning for the return of students to school on February 9, as the Public Health advice remains that the best place for children to be is in school.
“We expect that all children participating in the vaccination program will have the opportunity to receive at least one dose before school returns.”
Education Minister Sarah Courtney said the pending vaccination of primary school children was a “really exciting step” in the government’s push to keep Tasmanians safe.
“Planning is already underway to roll it out as quickly as possible,” she said.
The government is keen for parents to take their children to get the jab before they put their school uniforms on in the new year, but said schools could be involved down the track.
“The vaccinations will be available at GPs and state-run clinics but there is the potential to use school sites when classes go back,” Ms Courtney said.
In November, the Premier threw parents and schools into a spin when he suggested Tasmania’s school year could be delayed in a bid to allow primary school students to get vaccinated against Covid-19 once it was approved by the TGA.
At the time, Mr Gutwein said he was considering pushing back the school year to ensure children had the chance to be vaccinated before they headed back to class.
“I’ve already indicated to the secretary of the Department of Education that if we need to, we will look at the starting date of the school year to ensure that we can get that vaccination level up to as high a level as possible,” he said at the time.
State on track for 90% vax rate before borders reopen
AUTHORITIES have revealed the Tasmanian suburbs that are lagging in Covid-19 vaccination progress.
Sandy Bay, Dynnyrne, Bridgewater and Gagebrook are four of the worst suburbs in the state’s south, while Invermay, Latrobe, Devonport and Burnie and surrounding areas also have relatively lower coverage of vaccinations among both teenagers and adults than other suburbs.
“Those places all have 1000 or so, sometimes closer to 2000, people in those relatively small areas who haven’t had their first dose yet,” Public Health Director Mark Veitch said.
“They are the people who are most at risk. That’s where the outbreaks will happen when coronavirus is introduced into Tasmania.
“I’ve always been a little bit hesitant to make crystal ball guesses when people have asked me questions, but I think there is solid evidence out there that if there are urban populations with a larger number of people that are unvaccinated, that’s where the outbreaks happen.”
Dr Veitch said it was important people in those areas understood the risk, and he urged vaccinated people in those areas and surrounding suburbs to encourage unvaccinated friends to get the jab.
He said this could range from a simple discussion about the merits of vaccination, to supporting them to make a booking, or even going to the appointment with them.
State health commander Kathrine Morgan-Wicks said as of Wednesday, 94.2 per cent of Tasmanians aged 16 and over had received one dose of vaccine, while 87.8 per cent were fully vaccinated.
The state is expected to surpass the 90 per cent fully vaccinated mark about December 13, with the same milestone in the 12-and-over population forecast several days later.
Ms Morgan-Wicks also launched a new Check in TAS wallet card to help people who did not have a smartphone and could not use the app, or had a visual impairment.
It will feature people’s information in a unique QR code, which can be scanned in a fast and convenient way with the help of staff at venues and businesses.
Free Covid tests to get Tassie’s travel sector moving
TASMANIA’S business, tourism and hospitality sectors have celebrated news that travellers will no longer have to foot the bill for routine pre-travel Covid-19 tests.
Premier Peter Gutwein announced on Wednesday that after discussions with the federal government, the cost — which would have previously set an individual back $150 — would now be jointly covered by state and federal governments.
The requirement for travellers to return a negative test result at least 72 hours before travel applies to people from high-risk jurisdictions.
This includes the states of Victoria and NSW, which are Tasmania’s predominant domestic tourism markets.
Mr Gutwein said there was ample capacity within state testing clinics to cater for Tasmanians looking to travel to jurisdictions that require a pre-travel test.
For visitors to Tasmania, the test would need to be done in their home state or territory.
“This is good news for our tourism industry and local businesses and removes a potential barrier to travel, both for those wanting to come home to visit family and friends, or for those wanting to come and experience what our state has to offer,’’ Mr Gutwein said.
The Tasmanian Hospitality Association said it had been concerned that the cost would prove a deterrent for potential visitors, with chief executive Steve Old saying a significant portion of the state’s visitor numbers come from Victoria and NSW.
“Especially with Christmas on the horizon, there were fears potential tourists would head to other destinations,’’ Mr Old said.
“Today’s announcement that the state and federal governments will cover the costs associated with having a PCR test at a state-run clinic is another pleasing result which will no doubt help see people return to our hospitality venues over the summer period.”
Tourism Industry Council of Tasmania chief executive Luke Martin said the news would remove a barrier to people travelling to the state this summer.
“The fact the government has removed the burden of cost and people can go down to their local community testing clinic in Melbourne and Sydney … it just removes a lot of uncertainty and removes one big hurdle for that 15 December market,’’ Mr Martin said.
“The reality is there is now no excuse for people not to come down.”
Chief executive of the Tasmanian Chamber of Commerce and Industry, Michael Bailey, praised governments for listening to industry concerns over the issue.
Mr Bailey said the lead time before border reopening since last month’s announcement meant there was ample opportunity to resolve such issues.
“It’s a great outcome and smart planning that there’s been time to iron out the rough edges,’’ he said.
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