DAVID KOCH:
Alright. Back to school for Term 1 right across Australia this week, with measures in place to prevent classroom outbreaks. In New South Wales and Victoria students will receive free rapid antigen tests, with tests conducted twice a week for at least the first four weeks of term. In Queensland, RATs will be available for those at school with symptoms.
NATALIE BARR:
If a positive case is detected at a school in South Australia, teachers will be given seven rapid tests, and need to return a negative result each morning, with students asked to monitor for symptoms. However, the main focus remains on vaccinations, with ATAGI set to meet this week to discuss boosters for 16 and 17 year olds.
DAVID KOCH:
Lieutenant General John Frewen, who heads the COVID Vaccination Taskforce, joins us now from Canberra. John, good to see you again.
JOHN FREWEN:
[Talks over] Morning.
DAVID KOCH:
Look, in December you said every kid aged five to 11 would be able to get their first dose by the start of the school year - has that been the case?
JOHN FREWEN:
So, Kochie, the opportunities have been there. We've got more than 10,000 vaccination points across the country, and more than 6000 of those have been offering vaccines to kids. We've had 40 per cent of kids in just three weeks had their vaccines, that's- puts us right at the head of the pack globally - that's faster than the US, Germany and Israel have gone. Of course, more kids we'd love to see get through - the opportunities are there and it's really about parents finding the time to get them in.
NATALIE BARR:
So are you saying parents have been a bit slow?
JOHN FREWEN:
No. The rate has been extremely quick on the take-up, so we're pleased with that. But of course, you know, 40 per cent, there is more to go. There are opportunities through GPs, through pharmacies, through state hubs, there are walk-in appointments available every day, there are walk-ins available every day. So I know there's a lot going on with kids as they go back to school and all the things parents have got to do. And there's going to be additional opportunities too, as well. Some of the states and territories are looking at, you know, hubs in and around schools as well. So there's plenty of vaccines there, there's plenty of opportunities, it's really about getting them in.
DAVID KOCH:
[Talks over] Yeah. Yep. We've all got to get our act together after the summer holidays. Back to work and school and get into it. What about the progress of the booster shot? How's that going?
JOHN FREWEN:
Today is another important milestone for the vaccination program. We've been at a four-month interval for boosters and about just shy of 70 per cent, 7.7 million have had their boosters. Today that eligibility shifts to three months, so another 4.5 million Australians become eligible today. And again there are opportunities right across the country for very quick vaccination chances. So again, we just really encourage everybody out there to come forward and get their boosters as soon as they can. You know, some people might be, you know, wondering about is the booster really that necessary? Well, you know, Omicron, as we see, it moves very fast. It can be very serious for people. So boosters give people the best protection, so we really do encourage everyone to step up as quickly as they can.
DAVID KOCH:
Plenty of vaccines out there, we've just got to get it done. Lieutenant General, thanks for joining us.
JOHN FREWEN:
Thanks very much, guys.
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