The Federal Minister of Health Greg Hunt announced at a 1pm press conference that PfizerBioNTech vaccinations would be made available to all children in the 12-15 year-old age group from 13 September.

Mr Hunt said that this came followed on the earlier announcement on 9 August which made the Pfizer vaccine available to children in 12-15 age group who were immuno-compromised, or were from an indigenous background or who lived in remote communities.

“This means that all children between 12 and 15 can be vaccinated for COVID-19 from 13 September,” said the minister who added this latest announcement was part of a carefully sequenced plan.

He said the announcement on Monday that vaccinations were opened for the 16-39 year group was also part of that plan.

The minister said advice and information from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) and the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) was guiding the process.

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The Federal Minister for Education and Youth, Alan Tudge said that the best way to protect children was for the adults to vaccinate.

He said it was important to get the schools open again not only for learning but also to generate social interaction among children again. He said that he had received many calls from constituents who were worried about their children.

Mr Tudge said that while school vaccination programmes would be rolled out, he advised that parents should vaccinate their children as soon as the first opportunity to do so arose. School programmes would be staggered at different times.

Mr Hunt expressed satisfaction at the rate of vaccinations in the country with over 18.4 million vaccinations taking place nationally.

He said 56percent or 11.55 million people had received their first COVID vaccination. In order to reach the 75 percent mark, 14.5 million people need to be vaccinated and 16.5 million had to be vaccinated to reach the 80-percent first dose mark.

“Fewer than five million vaccinations are needed and we are closing in on that target,” the minister said.

In the Over-50s 77 percent had been vaccinated, Mr Hunt said while 80 percent of the Over 60s and 86.6 percent of the Over 70s had been vaccinate.