Priority appointments to speed up boosters for ACT teachers, school staff before school returns

Eligible education staff - including teachers, early childhood education and care staff and school-based staff who work with children - will have priority access to appointments at the Canberra Airport clinic.

Education Minister Yvette Berry said the prioritisation of school staff would help create a COVID-safe environment at schools and early childhood education centres when school returns at the start of February.

"We have taken this sensible and proactive step to protect our workforce but also to give children - particularly those that are too young to be fully vaccinated - the best protection that we can against COVID-19," Ms Berry said.

"This measure will help us to further reduce the risks associated with COVID-19 in our schools and early childhood settings and assist in supporting a COVID-safe return to school for term 1."

The group will be eligible to receive their booster dose three months after their second shot, and will be contacted directly by the Education Directorate or their employer with instructions for booking their appointments.

The appointments will be available from January 24, when the Canberra Airport clinic reopens for vaccinations.

ACT Chief Minister Andrew Barr again stressed the importance of vaccinations to reduce COVID-19 transmission and the threat of serious illness.

"There has been a strong early take-up of vaccination in the five-11 years age group, with around one quarter of children in this age group having received a vaccine in the first week of the program," Mr Barr said.

"We are planning for school return for Term 1. All five- to 11-year-olds in the ACT will have the opportunity to get a first dose before school goes back."

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The ACT has had the country's fastest growth in vaccinations among newly eligible children aged between five and 11.

More than 15 per cent of the cohort had received a first dose of a COVID-19 vaccination as of Friday, with the rate growing more than 1 per cent a day.

More than 28 per cent of Canberrans aged 18 and over have received a booster dose.

Health authorities expedited vaccinations for year 12 students, teachers and early childhood educators in September, in an effort to get senior students into classrooms for their end-of-year exams.

A final decision on the return of students to government schools is expected to be made some time this week, with education authorities hoping the Omicron wave of COVID-19 infections in the ACT will have peaked by the scheduled start of first term.

Mr Barr last week told The Canberra Times there was a plan B in place if schools were unable to return.

"We've got all of those systems in place but the preference is to go with plan A. That's what we're working towards," Mr Barr said.

Schools could shift to remote learning with in-person support for the children of essential workers if required.

"We're holding for another week in terms of making that decision so that we can get another week's data and get a sense of where case numbers are at, hospitalisations, et cetera," Mr Barr said on Friday.

Prime Minister Scott Morrison on Thursday said national cabinet had agreed schools should be the first thing to open and the last thing to close under any health restrictions.

"If schools don't open, that can add an additional 5 per cent to the absenteeism in the workforce," Mr Morrison said.

But professional bodies representing teachers and school staff have criticised the national cabinet decision to relax isolation requirements for school workers, who would be able to return during an isolation period following a COVID-19 exposure if they continue to test negative and remain free of symptoms.

Mr Barr has said the ACT government would work with unions and business groups to ensure exemptions - with voluntary arrangements - suit employers and employees.

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