Queensland lagging in 5-to-11-year-olds vax rate

On 10 January Australia began its COVID-19 vaccine program for 5-to-11-year-olds country-wide. 

Though there were initially concerns about supplies of the Pfizer’s Comirnaty vaccine, as it is the only one approved for ages five and up, the uptake rate has been excellent with nearly half (45.49 per cent, 1,035,742) of Australia’s 5-to-11-year-olds vaccinated in just under a month.

However, Queensland still lags behind the rest of the country for vaccination in this cohort, as only 39.87 per cent (190,870) of eligible kids have gotten their first dose. Only Western Australia fares worse with 39.54 per cent (96,540) of the same cohort having had their first vaccination.