17 September, 2021
Dear parent/guardian
The Chief Health Officer has written to me and other school principals across Queensland to urge you and your family (including all children aged 12 years and older) to take the opportunity over the upcoming school holidays to get vaccinated for COVID-19.
Children aged 12 years and older can receive a Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a Queensland Health vaccination location or at a participating General Practice (GP). In the very near future, you will be able to access Moderna (Spikevax) vaccine at a participating community pharmacy.
I encourage you to please make this a priority for your family these school holidays by taking the below actions.
How to book
- Register your interest to receive your COVID-19 vaccine at a Queensland Health vaccination location.
- Older children can register themselves separately if they have their own email address or
- A parent or guardian can register and set up their children as dependents. All correspondence will be managed through the parent/guardian's email address. Read more about creating a dependent in the vaccine booking system.
If you need assistance with vaccination bookings, call 134 COVID (13 42 68).
- Access the COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility Checker to book a vaccination at a participating GP or community pharmacy.
Walk in opportunities
Walk in appointments are currently available at selected Queensland Health vaccination locations. To find your closest walk in vaccination location, please visit www.health.qld.gov.au/vaccinelocations.
Consent
For young people, consent from a parent/guardian is usually required. In Queensland:
- individuals aged 12 to 15 years may require a parent/guardian to provide consent, however may be mature enough to provide informed consent
- individuals aged 16 years and older are generally deemed to have capacity to consent for vaccination.
It is recommended that children under the age of 16 have a parent/guardian with them at their vaccination appointment. Young people seeking to provide informed consent themselves, without parental consent, should speak to their vaccinating clinician.
Find out more about age of consent for vaccinations online.
Additional information and support
For more information about the COVID-19 vaccine and children, please visit Queensland Health's website for children, young people and parents.
If you need an interpreter to book your vaccination appointment, call 13 42 68 and ask to be connected to an interpreter. If an interpreter is needed to phone this service, first call the Translating and Interpreting Service on 13 14 50 and they can connect you.
If an interpreter is needed at the vaccine appointment, advise a staff member when you arrive at the vaccination location so they can arrange this for you. This is a free service.
Thank you for your cooperation to keep Queensland and our school community safe.
If you would like to access these links electronically please visit www.qchschool.eq.edu.au and scroll down to 'Latest news'.
Yours sincerely
Michelle Bond
Executive Principal
Queensland Children's Hospital School and statewide hospital education programs.
admin@QCHschool.eq.edu.au
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A copy of this letter is available to download via the following link:
QCHS_COVID_letter_20210917.pdf
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