Covid-19 News

Victoria, we know what to do.
Once again, we must keep our friends, family and community safe by following the Victorian
Government restrictions.

Thank you for your help.
We’ve got this.

Vaccinations for Students

It’s been really fantastic to see such excitement around the return to school and we want to keep it that way. A crucial part of that is getting as many students vaccinated as possible.

Alongside ventilation and other vital COVIDSafe steps such as regular rapid antigen testing, supporting as many students as possible to be vaccinated will help make our school as safe as possible.

Bookings for children aged 5 to 11 to receive the paediatric Pfizer vaccine are open and we encourage parents and carers to get your child vaccinated, if you haven’t already done so.

The Pfizer vaccine is safe and recommended for children. The vaccine will help protect your child from getting sick from COVID-19, help to reduce the spread of COVID-19, and help ensure kids can have more time at school and playing with their friends.

Vaccinations for children aged 5-11 years old are delivered at 2 appointments, 8 weeks apart. Children with specific medical vulnerabilities can access their second dose 3 weeks after their first dose.

If you’d like more information about this, you can read a recent statement from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI): https://www.health.gov.au/news/atagi-update-following-weekly-covid-19-meeting-19-january-2022 

To book an appointment

You can book at your local GP or pharmacy: https://covid-vaccine.healthdirect.gov.au/booking

You can also book at a family-friendly vaccination centre by calling the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398.

You can also make vaccination centre bookings for your children online, though you will need to use an email address that has not been used in the system before: https://portal.cvms.vic.gov.au/

Helping children to get their vaccination

Vaccination centres understand that children may feel anxious about vaccination or have other support needs. A range of options are available to help children get vaccinated. Please discuss your child’s needs with the vaccination centre when you book an appointment.

Appointments are also available at Aboriginal Controlled Community Health Organisations. 👉 Find out more about vaccination for kids: https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/vaccination-information-children-and-teenagers

COVID-19 Vaccines Webinar Your Questions Answered

Post Event Information
Thank you for attending the recent COVID-19 vaccination webinar on Thursday 9 September. You can access the following resources by clicking on the below links:  

• Presentation Slides
• Recording of the webinar

You can also:  

• Provide feedback by completing our one minute survey.
• Keep up-to-date by subscribing to our COVID-19 vaccine project update 

Getting a COVID-19 Vaccine
COVID-19 vaccines are safe, effective and free 

Vaccination is one of the most effective ways to protect against COVID-19. The more people who are vaccinated, the less people are able to spread the virus. 

Resources
Resources developed by the Victorian Department of Health:​ 

• Information for education staff receiving COVID-19 vaccine
• Translated resources​ 
• Information for Parents, Students and Educators  
• During the vaccine rollout it is critical we all continue to be COVIDSafe. Find out where to get tested.​ 

Resources developed by the Australian Government Department of Health:​ 

• Easy-read resources​ 
• COVID-19 vaccine information in your language​ 
• COVID-19 vaccine campaign resources​ 
• COVID-19 vaccination decision guide for women who are pregnant, breastfeeding, or planning pregnancy  
• ATAGI statement on revised recommendations on the use of COVID-19 Vaccine AstraZeneca (17 June 2021) ​ 
• Multilingual consumer factsheet about AstraZeneca vaccine / Multilingual consumer factsheet about Pfizer vaccine ​ 

Accurate and evidence-based answers to common questions  

• https://www.health.gov.au/initiatives-and-programs/covid-19-vaccines/is-it-true ​ 
• https://www.health.gov.au/resources/publication/covid-19-vaccines-common-questions-other-languages​ 

Other resources:  
National Centre for Immunisation Research and Surveillance – COVID-19 vaccines: Frequently asked questions​ 

Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) – COVID-19 vaccine: Information for consumers and health professionals​ 

Australian Society of Clinical Immunology and Allergy - www.allergy.org.au/patients/ascia-covid-19-vaccination-faq​ 

Melbourne Vaccine Education Centre - mvec.mcri.edu.au/references/covid-19-vaccines-frequently-asked-questions/

Services Australia – How to get an Individual Health Identifier

Final year school student vaccination blitz

Dear Students, parents/carers,

To help support the safe conduct of end-of-year exams, the Victorian Government has announced a vaccination blitz for final year students (all Victorian Certificate of Education (VCE) Units 3/4 students, final year Victorian Certificate of Applied Learning (VCAL) and International Baccalaureate (IB) students), their teachers and exam supervisors and assessors.

From Tuesday 7 September and until Friday 17 September, final year students, their teachers and VCE exam supervisors and assessors will have access to priority timeslots to attend their vaccination appointment at a vaccination centre.

Dedicated appointment booking hotline

The hotline number is 1800 434 144. The hotline will operate from 8am to 8pm. 

• Year 12 students will be able to book from 8am Monday 6 September.
• Other Unit 3/4 students can book from 8am Wednesday 8 September. 

Ineligible staff and students will not be able to make a booking using this booking process.

Please encourage final year students, their teachers and VCE exam supervisors and assessors to make an appointment, as this will help keep them and our community safe and support the safe conduct of the VCE examinations later this year.

Please also assure students and families that there is enough vaccine supply for all eligible students and staff. There is no need to rush to call the booking hotline immediately on Monday when it opens.

Students and families should be patient as there may be long wait times. We will support all students and staff to ensure they are vaccinated.

Message to Students

Dear students

As part of the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out, all students aged 16 years and above are now eligible to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

The Victorian Government aims to fully vaccinate all final year students by the time they sit their end-of-year exams and provide at least one dose for children aged 12 and older by the end of the school year. Final year students are therefore urged to immediately make an appointment to receive a vaccine by following the instructions under the heading ‘How to book an appointment’ below.

All eligible students are encouraged to make an appointment to receive the vaccine as soon as possible.

We are particularly encouraging final year students to make an early appointment as this will support the safe conduct of the VCE examinations late this year. You will be supported in every way possible to be vaccinated before the examinations begin.

All GAT students are encouraged to book in for your first dose before the GAT on 5 October. With limited vaccine supply, there are limited appointments available, you’re encouraged to check for appointments in state-run vaccination sites, and at General Practices. However, it is recommended you don’t get your first vaccine on the day of an exam, or the day before an exam – to avoid feeling common but mild side effects such as tiredness, headache, muscle pain, fever and chills and/or joint pain during your exam.

Please discuss your vaccination with your parent/guardian or carer and with your teachers to plan your absence and minimise disruption to your learning if your absence is during school hours.

Consent

Students can book their own appointment and consent to vaccination themselves if the health professional assesses them to be a mature minor.

How to book an appointment

To book an appointment, visit the coronavirus.vic.gov.au website or contact the Coronavirus hotline by phoning 1800 675 398.

To find a vaccination centre and opening times, visit the coronavirus.vic.gov.au website.

From 30 August, people aged 16-39 can get their COVID-19 vaccine at a doctor’s clinic, pharmacy or community health service through the Australian Government Eligibility Checker. You can book your appointment online or by calling the vaccine provider nearest to you.

What to bring Bring these things, if you have them:

• a face mask
• any emails about your vaccination appointment (on your phone or printed)
• photo identification, if you have one, such as a passport or driver’s licence
• a Medicare card or Individual Healthcare Identifier number

Please refer to Department Health information on what to bring to your vaccine appointment for more information.

More information

For more information about eligibility, visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au or use the Australian Government’s COVID-19 vaccine eligibility checker.

For further assistance, contact:

• the Department of Health Coronavirus hotline: 1800 675 398
• the National coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccine helpline: 1800 020 080.

Please feel free to reach out to me if you have questions.

Linda Mitchell, Principal
Fitzroy High School

Message for Parents/guardians and carers

Dear parents/guardians and carers

As part of the COVID-19 vaccination roll-out, all Victorian school students aged 16 years and above are now eligible to receive the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.

The Victorian Government aims to vaccinate all final year students by the time they sit their end-of-year exams. Final year students are therefore urged to immediately make an appointment to receive a vaccine by following the instructions under the heading ‘How to book an appointment’ below.

The state vaccination centres have recently had their capacity increased to support Victoria’s drive to administer 1 million doses of the vaccine by 19 September.

We have written to your child to provide them with information about their eligibility for getting a vaccination. Students will be supported in every way possible to be vaccinated before the examinations begin.

Students completing their final year are particularly asked to book an appointment as soon as possible to support the safe conduct of examinations. As their parent/guardian, I encourage you to help them to book and if needed, support them to attend their appointment.

Final year students are asked to consider getting their first vaccine before the GAT on 5 October. In addition, it’s recommended not to get the vaccine on the day of an exam, or the day before an exam – to avoid feeling common but mild side effects such as tiredness, headache, muscle pain, fever and chills and/or joint pain during your exam.

Consent

Students can book their own appointment and consent to vaccination themselves if the health professional assesses them to be a mature minor.

How to book an appointment

To book an appointment, visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au  or contact the Coronavirus hotline by phoning 1800 675 398.

To find a vaccination centre and opening times, visit  coronavirus.vic.gov.au.

From 30 August, people aged 16-39 can get their COVID-19 vaccine at a doctor’s clinic, pharmacy or community health service through the Australian Government Eligibility Checker. You can book your appointment online or by calling the vaccine provider nearest to you.

More information

Translated advice about the vaccines is available on the coronavirus.vic.gov.au.

For more information about eligibility, visit coronavirus.vic.gov.au or use the Australian Government’s COVID-19 vaccine eligibility checker.

For further assistance, contact:

• the Department of Health Coronavirus hotline: 1800 675 398
• the National coronavirus and COVID-19 vaccine helpline: 1800 020 080

Please get in touch with me if you wish to discuss this.

Linda Mitchell, Principal
Fitzroy High School

From 8:00pm tonight, there are only five reasons to leave home: getting the food and the supplies you need, exercising for up to two hours, care or caregiving, authorised work or education if you can’t do it from home, or to get vaccinated at the nearest possible location.

As coronavirus (COVID-19) cases are reported, new exposure sites are regularly
updated on coronavirus.vic.gov.au

It’s important that everyone in the community regularly checks the exposure sites. If they’ve visited a site
during the dates and times indicated, they must follow the advice about getting tested and quarantining
– to keep everyone in our community safe.

There are new Coronavirus (Covid-19) exposure sites.

Check all the exposure sites at https://www.coronavirus.vic.gov.au/exposure-sites

If you have visited any sites during the dates and times indicated, you must follow the health advice about getting tested and quarantining.

New exposure sites are constantly being updated. It is important to regularly check  the website for the latest information.

OTHER TRANSLATED INFORMATION IN YOUR LANGUAGE

Translated coronavirus information from the Victorian Government is available online in the following languages: