Australian children aged five to 11 will be able to receive a COVID-19 vaccine from early next year in an expansion of the federal government's rollout.
From 10 January, children in this age group will be able to access the Pfizer vaccine after the Australian Technical Advisory Group (ATAGI) issued recommendations, which the government has accepted.
Parents, carers and guardians will be able to book appointments from late December, and jabs will be available via GPs, Aboriginal Health Services, community pharmacies, and state and territory clinics.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Australia would be one of the first countries in the world to offer the COVID-19 vaccine for children.
"As a parent, there are no more important decisions that you make than those about the health and wellbeing of your children," he told reporters in Sydney on Friday.
"This is another important step forward in our vaccination program."
Health Minister Greg Hunt said the decision on Pfizer would give parents confidence and choice.
"It protects our children, it protects their families, and it protects their schools and so these are really important steps," he said.
"This has been a challenge for all of us but I tell you what, Australians have risen to that challenge."
A number of other steps need to be taken before vaccinations can be administered to five to 11-year-olds.
These include providing child-specific vaccination training for healthcare providers, and batch testing of doses by the Therapeutic Goods Administration.
ATAGI has recommended an eight-week interval between the two vaccine doses, but this can be shortened to three weeks in special circumstances such as outbreak settings.
Children aged five to 11 will receive a dose that is one-third of that given to people age 12 years and older.
The Moderna COVID-19 vaccine is currently being assessed by the TGA and ATAGI for use in children aged six to 11, with advice expected over the coming weeks.
With AAP.
