COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 5 to 11 years
Following the Therapeutic Goods Administration’s (TGA) approval of the Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine for children aged 5 to 11 years, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has considered the regulatory authority and provided advice on administering vaccines to this age group within the Australian context.
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The Australian Government has considered this advice and will provide COVID-19 vaccines to children aged 5 to 11 years through the COVID-19 Vaccination Program (Program).
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This means that anyone in Australia aged 5 to 11 years can receive a COVID-19 vaccine.
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Pfizer is the only vaccine that has been approved for use in this age group.
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The primary course is two doses, with an interval of eight weeks. The interval can be shortened to a minimum of three weeks in special circumstances.
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The rollout to this age group will commence from 10 January 2022, with all primary care sites able to order an ongoing allocation.
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The first ordering window for Pfizer paediatric vaccine opened on Saturday 11 December 2021.
The Pfizer vaccine for children 5 to 11 years is a different formulation from the Pfizer vaccine approved for those aged 12 and over and is differentiated by an orange cap. It can also be stored for a maximum of 10 weeks between 2°C to 8°C.
Booster doses are not yet recommended for this cohort (those under the age of 18 years), as severe COVID-19 is uncommon in this age group and the primary course of COVID-19 vaccines generates a strong immune response, so the benefit from additional doses of vaccine is likely to be small.