From 10 January 2022, children aged 5-11 years will be eligible to receive a COVID-19 vaccine. We encourage all parents to have their children vaccinated. The school holidays are a great time to start the 8 week course.
Appointments are now open through Hotdoc.
It is not uncommon for children to be afraid of the needles involved in immunisations. Our team are committed to creating a calm, positive, and encouraging environment to minimise your child’s anxiety around receiving the vaccine. Please keep in mind that you will need to wait for at least 15 minutes after your child has received the vaccine.
FAQ’s
1. How many doses will my child need?
Children aged 5-11 years will receive 2 doses of the same vaccine, given 8 weeks apart.
2. What brand of vaccine will my child receive?
Children will be receiving the Pfizer vaccine at a third of the strength of the adult Pfizer vaccine.
3. Can I accompany my child to their vaccine appointment?
Yes, you are very welcome to accompany your child to their vaccine appointment. However, we ask that only one parent comes with no additional children. We do not have enough space for additional people in our small clinic.
4. I am a new patient and am unable to make an appointment online.
Appointments are currently open to existing patients only. However, we will be opening COVID-19 vaccine appointments to new patients on 23rd December.
5. Does my child need to eat or drink anything before the appointment? Should they wear any particular clothing?
Children should carry out their day as per normal before the vaccine – including meal times and water as usual. We ask that they wear clothing with easy access to the left shoulder so that we can vaccinate them easily with minimal discomfort.
6. What if my child is feeling unwell on the day of the appointment?
Immunisations should only ever be given when a patient is feeling well. If your child is feeling even slightly unwell, you should cancel your child’s appointment and reschedule when your child is feeling better. Rest assured that there is plenty of vaccine available and we will be able to fit you in at a later date.
7. Will my child receive a COVID-19 vaccination certificate?
We have not been given this information. However, we will upload your child’s immunisation status to the Australian Immunisation Register within 24 hours of their appointment. This is the information that is used to generate the vaccine certificates. So when/if the time comes – you should be able to download your child’s certificate without any hassle.
8. Can I book my booster shot at the same time as my child’s vaccine?
Unfortunately, you will not be able to book your booster shot at the same time as your child’s immunisation. As the vaccine for children and adults is substantially different, we are separating clinic times to ensure there is absolutely no chance of confusion with vaccines given. We appreciate your patience and understanding as we manage the logistical challenges associated with the vaccine roll out.