Govt to start jabbing 12-17 year old age group from 20 October
The Department of Health Department is scaling up its vaccination drive – with children between the ages of 12 and 17 eligible for the jab from 20 October.
Health Minister Joe Phaahla made the announcement on Friday morning.
Phaahla says this follows a recommendation from the Ministerial Advisory Committee on vaccination.
“Today I am happy to announce that we have reached a stage where we are ready to open up vaccination for children between the ages of 12 -17. This is the secondary school cohort, and we are now ready to start vaccination for this group.”
The cohort comprises at least 6 million young people and will be eligible to receive at least one dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
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The department’s acting director-general Nicholas Crisp said this age group also do not need their parents’ permission to get jabbed.
“In terms of consent for children the Children’s Act makes provision for children from the age of 12 -17 years to give their own consent for their own medical treatment and there are provisions within the sub clauses within the children’s Act that explain which children need to get consent and for what.
“Children do not need their parent’s consent generally for any medical treatment and there are specific guidelines for that. It is possible for a child between the age of 12 -17 to go for a vaccination at a health service without their parents’ consent.”
