Covid Vaccinations for Five Year Olds

Australia’s medical regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), approved the use of the Pfizer vaccine for children aged 5-11 years. Families should book their children in for vaccination as soon as possible after their fifth birthday.

Vaccination for children aged 5-11 is not mandatory but is strongly encouraged. Getting vaccinated is the best way to protect our communities from further outbreaks and the spread of COVID-19. By vaccinating your children, you can:

• reduce the spread of COVID-19
• protect them from getting sick from COVID-19
• keep schools and kinders open, so children can have more face-to-face learning and playtime with their friends.

The vaccine is one-third of the adult dose and will be delivered at 2 appointments 8 weeks apart. The interval can be shortened to a minimum of 3 weeks in special circumstances.

Bookings are available at Victorian GPs and pharmacies and at state vaccination centres.

Many vaccination centres now offer walk-ins for anyone aged 5 and older. Children aged 5 to 11 years old must be accompanied by a parent/guardian who can provide consent for the vaccination.

The vaccination of 5-year-old children in our service, alongside the older siblings of our kinder children, will assist in keeping young children who are not yet eligible for vaccination safer.