From August 25, all NDIS participants aged 12-15 years can receive the Pfizer vaccine.
NDIS participants joining the current cohort of children aged 12-15 to be prioritised for the Pfizer vaccine, include:
· children with specified medical conditions that increase their risk of severe Covid-19, including severe asthma, diabetes, obesity, cardiac and circulatory congenital anomalies, neuro developmental disorders, epilepsy, immuno-compromised and trisomy 21
· Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children
· all children aged 12–15 years in remote communities, as part of broader community outreach vaccination programs that provide vaccines for all ages (≥12 years).
“This is an important protection for over 40,000 children with disability and we encourage parents and carers to book them in for a vaccination,” Health Minister Greg Hunt said.
There are now more than 8,200 vaccination points available and more than 123,000, or 46 per cent of NDIS participants over 16 years have received at least one dose of the vaccine and 28% have received two doses. This age group became eligible for the vaccine in June.
The government expects further recommendations regarding the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine for the remainder of children aged 12 to 15 shortly. Parents and carers are advised to check the Covid-19 eligibility checker from August 25 to book in their child’s vaccination.