COVID vaccination available for children under 5 with specific health conditions or disability

The Immunisation Service at Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s (Sunshine Hospital) provides paediatric doses of COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 6 months to under 5 years who have certain health conditions or disability which increase their risk of getting very sick from COVID-19. 

Vaccination experts from the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommend children who are aged 6 months to under 5 years get vaccinated against COVID-19 if they have the following or similar conditions: 

• severe primary or secondary immunodeficiency, including those undergoing treatment for cancer, or on immunosuppressive treatments as listed in the ATAGI advice on third primary doses of COVID-19 vaccine in individuals who are severely immunocompromised 
• bone marrow or stem cell transplant, or chimeric antigen T-cell (CAR-T) therapy 
• complex congenital cardiac disease 
• structural airway anomalies or chronic lung disease 
• Type 1 diabetes mellitus 
• chronic neurological or neuromuscular conditions, or 
• a disability that requires frequent assistance with activities of daily living, such as severe cerebral palsy or Down syndrome (Trisomy 21). 

ATAGI recommends eligible children have 2 doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, given 8 weeks apart. For children who are severely immunocompromised, it is recommended they have a third dose 8 weeks after their second dose. If children have been infected with COVID-19, ATAGI recommends that they wait 3 months before receiving their next COVID-19 vaccine dose. ATAGI does not currently recommend vaccination for children aged 6 months to under five years who are not in the above risk categories for severe COVID-19, because there is a very low chance of severe illness from COVID-19. 

The Immunisation Service at Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s is located on the ground floor (176 Furlong Rd, St Albans). Bookings can be made via the Coronavirus Hotline by calling 1800 675 398 (select option 3). Additional clinic details can be found on the vaccine clinic finder website. Walk ins will also be accepted. 

Additional support is available through the Victorian Specialist Immunisation Service (VicSIS), which is a specialist immunisation service for children at risk of experiencing an adverse event following immunisation, having severe allergy, or having significant behavioural issues or disabilities that require vaccination under sedation.  

For children requiring specialist vaccination support, a GP or specialist can refer the child to our VicSIS clinic at Joan Kirner Women’s and Children’s. For further information visit VicSIS.