Covid-19 updates - tamariki immunisation and boosters

COVID-19 vaccine for tamariki aged 5 to 11 years Parents and caregivers have the opportunity to protect their tamariki aged 5 to 11 against COVID-19, by being immunised with a child (paediatric) formulation of the Pfizer vaccine. The vaccine used for tamariki is a children’s version of the Pfizer vaccine, with a lower dose and smaller volume. Tamariki need two doses of the vaccine to be fully protected. It is recommended that these are given at least 8 weeks apart. The interval can be shortened to a minimum of 21 days if needed, for example if your child is starting significant immunosuppression treatment. The Ministry of Health recommends immunising your child to keep them safe and to help protect your whānau and community from COVID-19. How the programme will run Health officials are planning for a rollout across the motu starting 17 January. The Ministry of Health is working with iwi, DHBs, hauora providers, and community organisations to roll out the Pfizer vaccine to children in ways that suit whānau and communities. If you wish for your child to be immunised, your child will receive the Pfizer COVID-19 children’s vaccine. It has the same active ingredients as the vaccine given to adults, but as a smaller dosage. Some immunisation clinics may also offer other childhood immunisations such as MMR. It is okay to get several vaccines at the same time. Benefits of immunisation Immunisation is an important way we keep tamariki safe, like being sun smart or wearing a seatbelt. It protects your tamariki from many serious diseases and stops disease spreading within your whānau and the community. In Aotearoa, children get free vaccinations against 12 diseases, including whooping cough (pertussis), measles and polio. Benefits of immunisation against COVID-19 The COVID-19 virus can be unpredictable. While COVID-19 generally has milder effects in children, with symptoms being similar to a cold, some tamariki become severely ill and require hospitalisation. In addition, tamariki can have rare complications such as Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome (MIS-C) that may require intensive care. Tamariki can also suffer long term effects (known as long COVID), even after mild cases of COVID-19. Like adults, if your tamariki are infected with COVID-19 they may transmit the virus to other people. Immunising 5 to 11-year-old tamariki helps protect whānau members whose health makes them more vulnerable to COVID-19. Safety of the Pfizer vaccine