Australia to Start Vaccinating Young Children From Early 2022

(Bloomberg) -- Australia will begin vaccinating young children starting early next year once authorities receive final approvals in the coming weeks. 

Australia's pharmaceutical regulator, the Therapeutic Goods Administration, has provisionally approved a one-third dose of Pfizer's vaccine for children aged 5-11 years, Health Minister Greg Hunt said in a statement Sunday. Subject to final approvals, the authorities will begin vaccinations starting Jan. 10, he said. 

Final recommendations from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation are expected in the coming weeks, and the program will be timed to provide at least one dose to the kids ahead of the new school year in 2022, Hunt said. 

After a slow start, Australia ramped up its vaccination program in the second half of 2021 to end months-long lockdowns of the nation's two most populous cities as they combated a surge driven by the delta variant. About 93% of Australians aged 16 and over have had at least one dose of the vaccine, while about 77% of those aged 12-15 have had their first shot, Hunt said. 

Australia has a deal in place to receive enough of Pfizer's pediatric vaccine for the entire cohort, with the first shipment expected in early January, he said. 

Read More: Melbourne Reopens, Ending One of World's Longest Lockdowns 

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