The announcement was made by Mark Butler yesterday.
Health Minister Mark Butler says the government has accepted ATAGI’s advice and approved a lower-concentration dose of the Moderna vaccine to be administered to those at higher risk of serious illness from COVID-19 aged 6 months to 5 years.
Last month, the TGA provisionally approved the vaccine for children in that age group with "severe immunocompromise, disability, and those who have complex and/or multiple health conditions which increase the risk of severe COVID-19".
The vaccine for this age group, which will be made available from September 5, will contain a lower concentration of the active ingredient than the adult dose. The full course for this age group is currently 2 pediatric doses administered 8 weeks apart.
The paediatric dose will only be available at a small number of vaccination sites, given the small size of the cohort requiring this vaccine.
“The Australian Government has secured supplies of this new vaccine for younger children and these vaccines will shortly [be] distributed to vaccination sites," Health Minister Mark Butler said.
Initial supplies are expected to arrive in the country later this week to be distributed to vaccination sites.
In a media release, ATAGI said they are "not currently recommending COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 6 months to under 5 years who are not at increased risk."
“ATAGI will continue to monitor the evidence in relation to the benefit of vaccination in this age group.”
"More information on when bookings open on the Vaccine Clinic Finder will be available later this month. Parents are asked not to contact vaccination providers at this time."
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