An eager and highly qualified workforce is ready to roll-out the large-scale COVID vaccination program in the south-west for children aged 5-11.
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The South West Healthcare vaccination centre in Warrnambool will on Tuesday, January 11 begin giving first COVID vaccination shots for this age group.
The vaccinations will be delivered by paediatric trained and child and maternal health nurses.
Among those will be South West Healthcare nurse unit manager of vaccinations and testing, Christa McLeod, an experienced paediatric nurse, who has spent time in Melbourne at the Austin Hospital Paediatrics Emergency Department.
Ms McLeod believes parents and children should see the child vaccination as a positive experience.
"I love kids so I'm excited to be part of this," Ms McLeod said.
"We want to make this a good experience because the children will be back in eight weeks for their second shots.
"We want it to be positive and make this a safe space for children."
The staff's aim of making the vaccination centre child-friendly has been helped by the placement of art work and props.
These are age appropriate and aimed at creating an environment that children feel comfortable in.
While the first vaccination day for children aged 5-11 will be held on January 11, the next two sessions will on the Thursday and Friday of next week.
Thursday and Friday will remain exclusively vaccination days at the centre for ages 5-11 through the remainder of January and into February.
Bookings will be essential and can be done through the Coronavirus Hotline on 1800 675 398, between 8am and 8pm.
If a child has their own email address, bookings can be done online at https://portal.cvms.vic.gov.au/
Vaccinations in Camperdown for ages 5-11 will be on January 20 and ongoing on Fridays after that.
South West Healthcare CEO Craig Fraser said the vaccinations for the 5-11 age group was an important step forward for that cohort.
"Kids have had an incredibly tough two years," Mr Fraser said.
"Unable to go to school, go to birthday parties, even the pool or the playground at times.
"For so many it has been hard to understand why life has changed so much, and many kids may feel confused in terms of the drastic rate of change.
"But this is their chance to feel like they are doing something - they can get vaccinated and be a part of stepping forward to normalcy again."
