Aussie kids to get Covid jab within weeks - everything you need to know
Australia's Covid-19 vaccine rollout took another significant step on Thursday with the official approval of the Pfizer jab for children under 12.
The move will further expand Australia's already impressive vaccine coverage and follows the September decision to approve the vaccine for 12 to 15-year-olds. Since that approval, 68.9 per cent of children in that age category have been fully vaccinated in Australia.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison has hailed the decision, saying it will bring "great relief" to parents.
"They can have peace of mind knowing this has the tick from the best medical regulators in the world," he said.
When can under 12s get a vaccine?
Bookings for appointments will commence before the end of 2021.
The federal government has stated the rollout will commence on January 10.
Children aged five to 11 will be eligible, with more than 2 million children in that age group now able to receive the jab in the weeks ahead.
Why vaccinate under 12s?
While children are far less likely to be affected by severe illness from the Covid-19 virus, Australian experts fear up to 3 per cent of unvaccinated children could eventually be hospitalised with Covid.
There is also long-term infection impacts to be considered, with reports of long Covid in children causing significant complications down the track.
Schools have proven to be a breeding ground for the virus. Vaccinating children will help in reducing transmission of the virus in the community.
Paediatrician Dr Anthea Rhodes told ABC News Breakfast the approval is "incredibly important".
"We have to also stay mindful that there are new variants on the horizon. This journey is far from over," she said.
What are the side-effects of the vaccine?
Side-effects from the Pfizer vaccine are similar to those experienced in adults.
The most common side-effects include fatigue, headaches and body aches.
There remains a small risk of myocarditis and pericarditis, which affect the heart. Health authorities have approved the vaccine believing the extremely rare occurrence of these conditions is outweighed by the protection the vaccine provides under 12s.
Clinical trials for the age group in the US failed to produce a single case of myocarditis, but experts do believe cases will eventually rise. The risk of the rare side-effect for under 12s is expected to be lower than that of teenagers.
Chest pain, shortness of breath and an unusual heart beat should be reported to the child's doctor.
Which other countries are vaccinating under 12s?
The European Medicienes Agency (EMA) has approved the Pfizer vaccine for children aged 5 to 11, with several countries expected to commence a rollout in the coming weeks.
Germany's vaccination advisory group STIKO has approved the vaccine for children under 12 with pre-existing conditions and has made it available for the anyone in the age group.
The US's rollout commenced weeks ago, with about five million under 12s receiving a vaccine, according to the Biden administration this week.
What is different about the rollout for children?
The interval between the two jabs is longer for under 12s compared to adults. Children will need to wait eight weeks instead of three for their second dose.
The size of the dose is also smaller. It is one-third the size of an adult's dose.
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