Jeremy Rockliff,Minister for Health
Tasmanian children are leading the nation in protecting themselves and their families against the effects of COVID.
Our vaccination roll-out for our 5-11 years old continues to track strongly, with 44.4 per cent of eligible children now having received their first dose – a significantly higher rate than the national average of just over 28 per cent.
To further boost our rates of vaccination in our young ones, the Ulverstone COVID Vaccination Clinic will be accepting walk-ins over the coming weekend, Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 January. In the South, we also have the Clarence COVID Vaccination Clinic accepting walk-ins on Sunday 30 January for 5–11-year-olds.
Our state clinics are specially organised to accommodate children of this age group with nurses trained in paediatric vaccination and longer appointment times.
Importantly, our vaccination clinics are accessible for people with a disability or those who may have special requirements such as a mental illness, a fear of needles or medical procedures. Additional support includes low-sensory or private spaces away from general vaccination areas, longer appointment times and staff who have received training by Autism Tasmania or are familiar with how to care for people with a disability.
If you haven't already, it's time to ensure that a COVID vaccine is on your back-to-school list for every child over five in your household.
We have enough doses to ensure all eligible children can get their first vaccination before school returns, whether that's in a state clinic or GP clinic.
The following children's clinics still have plenty of appointments available before schools return:
Southern Tasmania:
- Clarence High School – Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 January
- Hobart, Mac-02 – Sunday 30 January
- Brighton Civic Centre – Monday 31 January
- Oatlands – Tuesday 1 February
- Hobart, PW1 – Friday 4 February
Northern and North West Tasmania:
- Ulverstone Secondary College – Saturday 29 and Sunday 30 January
- Launceston Door of Hope Church – Monday 31 January, 7 February
- Sheffield Town Hall – Monday 31 January
- Smithton High School – Friday 4 February
- Burnie Arts and Function Centre – Saturday 5 February
- Devonport Paranaple Centre – Sunday 6 February
- Launceston Transit Centre – Sunday 6 February
Finally, the Royal Flying Doctor Service continues to play an important role in ensuring that Tasmanians living in regional and rural areas can be vaccinated before school returns. The RFDS bus will be visiting the following locations in the first week of February:
- Strahan Primary School – Tuesday 1 February
- Queenstown, Driffield Street near Service Tas – Wednesday 2 and Thursday 3 February
- Zeehan Primary School – Thursday 3 February
- Rosebery Neighbourhood House – Friday 4 February
So, if you're yet to book your children in, now is the time to do so. I can't emphasis enough that vaccination remains one of the most important protections against serious illness from COVID.
