Dear parents/guardians and carers,
As part of the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out, more Victorian school students are now eligible to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
Students aged 12 years and older living with a specified underlying medical condition or disability, including NDIS participants, are eligible for vaccination.
You should speak to your child’s doctor or regular health professional prior to their appointment if you have questions about the COVID-19 vaccine and your child’s health.
Everyone aged 16 years and over is also eligible to get a COVID-19 vaccine.
You are strongly encouraged to make an appointment for your child and other household members to receive a vaccine by following the instructions under the heading ‘How to book an appointment’ below.
The state vaccination centres have recently had their capacity increased to support Victoria’s drive to administer 1 million doses of the vaccine by 19 September.
If additional support is needed or you can’t attend a community-based setting, Disability Liaison Officers can help you.
Consent
Students can book their own appointment and consent to vaccination themselves if the health professional assesses them to be a mature minor. Otherwise, students must have a parent or guardian’s consent to be vaccinated. That is that the health professional assesses that you understand the information relevant to the decision to be vaccinated and the effect of that decision.
How to book an appointment
To book an appointment, visit the coronavirus.vic.gov.au website or contact the Coronavirus hotline by phoning 1800 675 398.
To find a vaccination centre and opening times, visit the coronavirus.vic.gov.au website.
People aged 16-39 and those aged 12 years and older living with a specified underlying medical condition or disability, including NDIS participants can get their COVID-19 vaccine at a participating doctor’s clinic, pharmacy or community health service through the Australian Government Eligibility Checker.
From Tuesday 7 September and until Friday 19 September, final year students
(all Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) Units 3 and 4 students, final year Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) and International Baccalaureate (IB) students), their teachers, exam supervisors and assessors will have access to priority timeslots to attend their vaccination appointment at a vaccination centre. Final year students can book their first and second dose appointments via a dedicated booking hotline from 8am on Monday, 6 September. The hotline number is 1800 434 144. The hotline will operate from 8am to 8pm. Year 12 students will be able to book from 8am Monday 6 September. Other Unit 3 and 4 students can book from 8am Wednesday 8 September.
More information
Translated advice about the vaccines is available on the coronavirus.vic.gov.au website.
For help to access health services, visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au/disability-liaison- officers.
Extra advice including a social script that outlines the process of getting vaccinated for autistic people is available on vaccination information for people with disability.
For more information about eligibility, visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au or use the Australian Government’s COVID-19 vaccine eligibility checker.
For further assistance, contact:
• the Department of Health Coronavirus hotline: 1800 675 398
• the National coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccine helpline: 1800 020 080 Please get in touch with me if you wish to discuss this.