Vaccination Blitz for final year students – VCE Units 3/4 and final year VCAL students

Dear parents and carers of final year students,

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.

To help support the safe conduct of end-of-year exams, the Victorian Government has announced a vaccination blitz for final year students (all VCE Units 3/4 students and final year VCAL students).

• From Tuesday 7 September and until Friday 17 September final year students will have access to priority timeslots to attend their vaccination appointment at a vaccination centre.
• Getting vaccinated is the best way you can protect your child, your family and our school community from further outbreaks and the spread of COVID-19.
• Eligible students can book their first and second dose appointments via a dedicated booking hotline from 8am on Monday, 6 September.

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

• It will provide a fast booking process and minimise absence for students during school hours.
• Year 12 students will be able to book from 8am Monday 6 September.
• Other VCE Unit 3/4 students can book from 8am Wednesday 8 September. The hotline number is 1800 434 144.
• There is enough vaccine supply for all eligible students. There is no need to rush to call the booking hotline on Monday when it opens. Please be patient as there may be long wait times.

What to bring

Students are asked to bring these things to their appointment:

• a face mask
• any emails about their vaccination appointment (digital or printed)
• photo identification
• a Medicare card or Individual Healthcare Identifier number

Students are asked to book an appointment as soon as possible to keep themselves and their communities safe and support the safe conduct of examinations. I encourage you to help them to book and, if needed, support them to attend their appointment.

Students are strongly encouraged to get their first vaccine before the GAT on 5 October. In addition, it is 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.

Please note that all students will be able to sit their exams regardless of their vaccination status. End of year exams will be delivered in accordance with the advice of the Chief Health Officer.

You should speak to your doctor if you have any questions about vaccinations. Vaccines approved for use in Australia are safe, effective and will help protect Victorians against the spread of COVID-19.

Consent

Students can book their own appointment and consent to vaccination themselves if the health professional assesses them to be a mature minor. That is that the health professional assesses that they understand the information relevant to the decision to be vaccinated and the effect of that decision.

How to book an appointment

Year 12 students will be able to book from 8am Monday 6 September, and other Unit 3/4 students from 8am Wednesday 8 September. The hotline is open from 8am to 8pm, the phone number is 1800 434 144.

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

Mr Brian Turner, Principal