The Health Directorate is to open Pfizer COVID-19 vaccination appointments to Canberra children aged 12-15 years from Monday (20 September).
Minister for Health, Rachel Stephen-Smith said the appointments would be available at ACT Health vaccination clinics.
“ACT Government has maintained that we should be including everybody 12 and over in our vaccination targets,” Ms Stephen-Smith said.
“Giving 12 to 15 year olds the ability to book at an ACT Government mass vaccination clinic will help us get more Canberrans vaccinated faster and it will also help the Territory reach our vaccination targets faster,” she said.
“There are about 25,000 children in this age group in the Territory.”
Ms Stephen-Smith said while there was a lower risk of severe disease in children, the Delta variant could spread through school-aged children and getting them vaccinated would protect them, their families and the community.
“There are only a small number of Pfizer appointments available at ACT Government mass vaccination clinics before November and we are not receiving Moderna,” she said.
“People should therefore consider checking with GPs and pharmacies to secure a Pfizer or Moderna vaccination through the Commonwealth’s primary care program.”
Ms Stephen-Smith said there were two vaccines approved for 12 to 15 year olds in Australia, with Pfizer now available from participating GPs and Moderna expected to be available from participating pharmacies from 20 September.
