Children in the ACT aged between 12 and 15 will from next week be able to book in for a Pfizer vaccination against COVID-19 at an ACT government-run clinic.
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Bookings for the cohort of about 25,000 children will open on Monday, September 20.
Health Minister Rachel Stephen-Smith said the cohort was relatively small but it was an important group for the territory's vaccination rollout, and she encouraged parents to get their children vaccinated as quickly as possible.
"While there is a lower risk of severe disease in children, we have seen through our current outbreak the potential for the Delta variant to spread through school-aged children," Ms Stephen-Smith said.
"Getting our children vaccinated protects them, their families and the whole community."
However, constraints on the supply of the Pfizer vaccine mean there are not many appointments at government-run clinics before November.
Ms Stephen-Smith said people should consider checking with their general practitioner or pharmacy to secure a Pfizer of Moderna vaccination, under the Commonwealth's primary care program.
"While we hope to release new appointments as increasing vaccine supply allows, the fastest path to getting your children vaccinated may be talking to your trusted health professional," she said in a statement.
"There are two vaccines approved for 12- to 15-year-olds in Australia, with Pfizer available from participating GPs already, and Moderna expected to be available from participating pharmacies from September 20."
Chief Minister Andrew Barr has said people aged 12 and up would be factored into the ACT's consideration of vaccination rates before restrictions are eased.
A national plan, agreed to by national cabinet, sets out vaccination rate targets before restrictions can be eased in the population aged 16 and up.
More than 50 per cent of Canberrans aged 16 and up have received two doses of a COVID-19 vaccination.
Mr Barr on Friday said he was confident that close to 95 per cent of people in the ACT aged over 16 had booked or planned to book their vaccine appointments.
More than 30,000 extra Pfizer appointments were made available at government-run clinics on Thursday, following a boost to vaccine supplies secured from the United Kingdom.
The ACT government has already made priority vaccination appointments available to year 12 students.
Before the current COVID-19 outbreak, Ms Stephen-Smith said the ACT was considering a school-based vaccination program.
The Therapeutic Goods Administration approved the Pfizer vaccination for children aged 12 and up in July, and the Moderna jab for the same cohort earlier this month.
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Jasper Lindell
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
Jasper Lindell joined The Canberra Times in 2018. He is a Legislative Assembly reporter, covering ACT politics and government. He also writes about development, transport, heritage, local history, literature and the arts, as well as contributing to the Times' Panorama magazine. He was previously a Sunday Canberra Times reporter.
