Thousands of at-risk South Australian children aged six months to under five years old are now eligible to receive their COVID vaccine under new national guidelines.
Babies and young children with certain medical conditions can receive the Moderna vaccine from the start of this week – a lower paediatric dose which is a quarter of the adult dose to ensure a safe and effective vaccine.
Eligible children include those who are severely immunocompromised, have a disability, or complex or multiple health conditions that increase the risk of severe illness from COVID.
About 5000 South Australian children are in this category, with the vaccination rollout aimed at protecting our youngest and most vulnerable from being hospitalised with the disease.
At-risk groups include cancer patients or those on immunosuppressive treatments, complex congenital heart disease, chronic lung disease, Type 1 diabetes and a disability such as severe cerebral palsy or Down Syndrome.
Families can access the paediatric Moderna vaccine at the Women’s and Children’s North Adelaide COVID-19 vaccination clinic (77 King William Road), selected regional SA Health clinics, participating GPs, Commonwealth vaccination clinics and Aboriginal Community Controlled Health Organisations.
Additional mobile clinics are set to roll out across regional South Australia later this month.
Health authorities are now working closely with paediatric specialist services to promote the changes and help more families understand if their child is eligible.
Two doses are recommended, with an eight-week interval between each dose. However, severely immunocompromised children are required to have three doses for the best possible protection.
This follows the Moderna vaccine approval by federal bodies the Therapeutic Goods Administration and ATAGI.
The expansion comes as South Australia leads other states in our paediatric COVID vaccination program for children aged 5 to 11, with about 44% of this age group now double dosed – only Tasmania and the ACT have higher dosage rates.
Parents should wait three months if their child has had COVID before having them receive the vaccine.
For more information about these changes, visit sahealth.sa.gov.au/covidvaccine or call the COVID-19 Clinical Advisory Service on 1300 232 272.
