MONIQUE WRIGHT: From today, children aged from 5 to 11 are eligible to get their first COVID-19 vaccination. It's the next critical phase in the rollout with children under 12 making up around a fifth of all COVID cases. Kids will receive two jabs of a new lower dose Pfizer vaccine with a recommended interval of eight weeks in between. But there are concerns that the first stage of rollout won't be finished before the end of the school holidays, with parents struggling to find bookings, and GPs warning about a lack of supply. And joining us now is the man behind the rollout, Lieutenant General John Frewen. Good morning to you. Thanks so much for being with us.
JOHN FREWEN: Hey.
MONIQUE WRIGHT: So we know it's crucial not just for these 2.3 million kids but also for, really, the protection of the entire community to get these kids are vaccinated. Just what challenges do you think- you know, are you predicting?
JOHN FREWEN: Yeah, look, Mon, this is a- it's a really important day for the rollout. We've been looking forward to getting the 5 to 11-year-olds the opportunity to get vaccinated. There are more than 10,000 places across the country now that are administering vaccines. Now, the majority of those will be engaged in the rollout for kids as well. Supply isn't the issue; we've got enough vaccines. The real challenge now is just getting the distribution to where the demand is greatest. So we're just saying to people- I know a lot of people have already got their bookings in place, but if you're having trouble at the moment, maybe with your normal healthcare provider, your GP, then please do try pharmacies, maybe try one of the state and territory clinics as they come online. There's plenty of opportunities, there's plenty of vaccines, so if people do need a little bit of patience then I'd encourage that.
MONIQUE WRIGHT: Look, my three kids are in this age group. I, like so many others, have only been able to secure an appointment just days out from when they start school, so the first vaccine won't even, really, be on board and benefiting them yet. Have you got any advice for parents who are struggling to get those appointments though? And I have trawled everywhere.
JOHN FREWEN: Yeah. No, look, if you have got an appointment in place, that's great, but there are new appointments coming online every day. There are going to be walk in opportunities as well. So, again, I'd just keep trying. Try your local pharmacies, keep an eye on when the state and territory clinics are opening up, and just- things will be moving around the system and there will be people getting through more quickly in some places than others. We'll be working with all of the providers to make sure that we get the supplies to those places where they're needed most. But again, a little bit of patience. I know people are very keen to get their kids through before school. The vaccines are there, it's just about us now marrying the vaccines up with where the people are.
MONIQUE WRIGHT: Alright. Lieutenant General John Frewen, it's always good to talk to you. Thank you so much.
JOHN FREWEN: Thanks, Mon.
MONIQUE WRIGHT: Good luck, it's going to be busy.
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