Shoalhaven kids aged five to 11 rolled up their sleeves for their first COVID vaccine over the weekend as the Omicron variant continues to spread across the nation.
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More than 110 local children received the jab at the Worrigee Medical Centre on Saturday and Sunday, with clinics set to continue through the week at Shoalhaven Family Medical Centres, other local practices and pharmacies.
Pfizer is the recommended dose for the five to 11 age group from ATAGI, with theirs a third of the adult dose which will be delivered in two shots, eight weeks apart.
Shoalhaven Family Medical Centres practice principal, Annette Pham, said parents were keen to get their children vaccinated ahead of the school term and that the clinic ran smoothly.
"Everything went really well," said Ms Pham. "People are quite eager to get their children vaccinated."
"We just kept it 110 doses for the first weekend, because children tend to take a lot longer to vaccinate.
"But there were no problems, none were anxious or worried."
More than 800 adults also received their booster shots at the centre over the weekend.
Read more: School return locked in, says NSW premier
Supply for Pfizer doses has been an issue across the state which has caused the cancellation of children's vaccines appointments.
However, Ms Pham reported there was plenty of supply at the Shoalhaven Family Medical Centres, although it was a close call ahead of the weekend's clinics.
"The vaccines didn't come in until a quarter to five on Friday afternoon," said Ms Pham.
"But we got all of our supplies and didn't have to cancel any appointments."
Some states and territories are weighing up whether to delay the reopening of schools for the new year to allow more children to be vaccinated, as the eight week gap recommended between jabs means very few will be fully vaccinated against COVID-19 when classrooms open.
The Queensland government has delayed the return to school by two weeks, but NSW Premier Dominic Perrottet said he was determined children would be back in the classroom day one of term one.
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Grace Crivellaro
Court reporter for the Illawarra Mercury.
Court reporter for the Illawarra Mercury.
