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Children/adolescents aged 12–15 eligible for Pfizer vaccination from 15 September 2021
Children/adolescents aged 12–15 years will be eligible for vaccination with the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine from Wednesday 15 September 2021. Bookings will open on Monday 13 September.
This announcement follows Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommendations on the use of COVID-19 vaccines in all young adolescents in Australia.
Some 12–15-year-olds are already eligible for the Pfizer vaccine, including those:
- on the National Disability Insurance Scheme and/or living with significant disability requiring frequent assistance with activities of daily living
- with specified medical conditions
- who are Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander
- who live in a remote community, as part of an outreach program.
Pfizer is the only COVID-19 vaccine currently registered in Australia for this age group.
No-fault COVID-19 indemnity scheme
On 28 August 2021, Minister for Health and Aged Care Greg Hunt announced more details about the no-fault COVID-19 indemnity scheme that will come into effect on Monday 6 September 2021.
The scheme offers protection to Australians receiving vaccines as well as health professionals administering them. It will cover the costs of injuries above $5000 due to a proven adverse reaction to a COVID-19 vaccination, and payments will be fully funded by the Commonwealth.
The Therapeutic Good Administration (TGA) will provide guidance on recognised adverse reactions as part of its established surveillance program.
From 6 September, Australians who suffer injury and loss of income due to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine will be able to register their intent to claim at on the Department of Health website.
The scheme will be backdated to February 2021.
Ongoing expression of interest in participating in the vaccine rollout in general practice
A standing expression of interest is open for new general practices interested in joining the COVID-19 vaccination program.
To be eligible to join the program, your practice must either be:
- an accredited practice and hold a current and valid accreditation through the National General Practice Accreditation Scheme
OR
- a non-accredited practice administering vaccines under the National Immunisation Program.
If you want to join the program at any stage, contact your local Primary Health Network.
You will initially be on-boarded to administer the AstraZeneca vaccine and will then be eligible to receive the Pfizer vaccine from September 2021.
Reporting in-reach clinics
If your practice is, or has been, providing dedicated in-reach COVID-19 vaccination services for workers in residential aged care or disability care settings, your practice is eligible for a practice incentive payment.
To receive the payment, report any clinics you conducted between 29 April 2021 and 31 October 2021 through the ‘In Reach Vaccination Reporting’ tab now live on the COVID-19 Vaccine Administration System.
Demonstrating the rarity of risks associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine
The Australian Academy of Science, with support from the Department of Health, has created new resources to help demonstrate how extremely rare the risk of death associated with the AstraZeneca vaccine is.
Resources include:
- infographics to be printed as posters
- animated slides for use on websites or social media
- tiles for use on websites or social media.
You can access these and other resources on the Australian Academy of Science website.
COVID-19 vaccine safety surveillance
You can find the latest COVID-19 vaccine weekly safety report (with data on adverse events following immunisation up to 26 August 2021) on the TGA website.
It addresses reporting of thrombosis with thrombocytopenia (TTS), immune thrombocytopenia (ITP) and Guillain-Barre Syndrome (GBS) after receiving the AstraZeneca vaccine, and myocarditis and pericarditis after receiving the Pfizer vaccine.
This week's report also addresses increased reporting of menstrual problems and unexpected vaginal bleeding suspected to be related to receiving a COVID-19 vaccine. The TGA carried out an investigation and did not find evidence for a link between vaccination and menstrual problems. Monitoring will continue.
Give the world a shot – Supporting vaccine access in lower-income countries
UNICEF and the Immunisation Coalition are issuing an urgent plea to Australians to help close the global COVID-19 vaccination gap by making a tax-deductible donation to UNICEF Australia to deliver two billion vaccines in lower-income countries.
We invite you to display these posters in your waiting room or pre/post-vaccine clinic spaces to encourage people to donate following their vaccination.
Give the world a shot poster (pre-vaccination version) Give the world a shot poster (post-vaccination version)
Decision aid: Selecting respiratory and eye protection during COVID-19
The National COVID-19 Clinical Evidence Taskforce has released a new decision aid to help you determine the most appropriate respiratory and eye protection in the context of COVID-19.
Access the desicion aid