Key dates to remember

Fri 17th Sept Last day of Term 3

Thu 23rd Sept Yr7 & Yr10 ONLY

school Immunisations NOT COVID jabs

Mon 4th Oct First day of Term 4

Tue 5th Oct G A T

COVID 19- Vaccination

As part of the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out, from Monday 13 September, all Victorians aged 12 and older are eligible to book and receive a COVID-19 vaccine at a state vaccination centre, a Commonwealth vaccination centre, or through a GP clinic, pharmacy or community health service. Vaccination bookings for students should be made by following the instructions under the heading ‘How to book an appointment’ below. Vaccination is not mandatory but is strongly encouraged. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect our school community from further outbreaks and the spread of COVID-19.

The Victorian Government’s aim is to provide an opportunity for all children aged 12 years and older to receive at least one vaccine dose by the end of the school year.

Final year school student vaccination blitz

A reminder that final year students (all Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) Units 3/4 students, final year Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) and final year International Baccalaureate (IB) students), their teachers and exam supervisors and assessors have access to priority timeslots to attend their vaccination appointment at a state vaccination centre until Sunday 19 September.

The vaccination blitz for final year

school students has been extended until Sunday 19 September, following a very strong and positive response from the community in the first week of the blitz. Please continue to encourage your eligible staff and students to take up this opportunity.

Dedicated appointment booking hotline for Final year students: The hotline number is 1800 434 144.

The hotline will operate from 8am to 8pm.

Year 12 students will be able to book from 8am Monday 6 September.
Other Unit 3/4 students can book from 8am Wednesday 8 September. Ineligible staff and students will not be able to make a booking using this booking process.

Consent

Students aged 12 to 15 can book their own appointment and may be able to consent to vaccination themselves if the health professional assesses them to be a mature minor.This means that the health professional assesses that they understand the information relevant to this decision to be vaccinated and the effect of that decision. Where a student is not considered to be a mature minor by the health professional, the health professional will seek consent from the student’s parent/carer. Parents/carers can complete a consent form for COVID-19 vaccination for their child to bring to their appointment, or parents/carers can attend with their child to provide consent in person.

How to book an appointment

Bookings for a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine can be made for children aged 12 years and older via state vaccination centres, Commonwealth vaccination centres, GP clinics, pharmacies and community health services. Find a participating Commonwealth vaccination centre, GP, pharmacy or community health service through the Australian Government Eligibility Checker. You can book your appointment online or by calling the vaccine provider nearest to you. School staff and students can book or change a vaccination appointment at a state vaccination centre through the Victorian Government’s COVID-19 vaccine online booking system. To find a state vaccination centre and opening times, visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au.

For information on what to bring to a vaccine appointment please visit Checklist: before your COVID-19 vaccination.

Vaccine and Mental Health webinar

The Victorian Department of Health hosted a live webinar for young people to provide information on COVID-19 vaccines and how to support their mental health. The free webinar was held on Tuesday 14 September, from 6pm to 7pm.

Topics Included:

· vaccine development and safety

· accessing and consenting to a vaccination

· how to book an appointment

· supporting your mental health

· question and answer session with the panel.

More information

For further assistance, contact:

· the Department of Health Coronavirus hotline: 1800 675 398

· the National coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccine helpline: 1800 020 080.

NEWSLETTER

Issue 31 · 15 Sep 2021

In this issue