COVID-19 vaccine program sees Launceston College students roll up sleeves

Nurses were on hand as students lined up to get a dose of the Pfizer vaccine during their school day.

It marked the start of the COVID-19 vaccination schools program, which kicked off at Launceston and Don colleges.

READ MORE: That P word, and what it means for Tasmanian wages

The pop up clinics are travelling around colleges in the state, aiming to give up to 300 vaccines daily to grade 11 and 12 students.

Two Launceston College students who received the jab were grade 12 students Bella Larby and Maddy McCann.

The girls said they were happy to learn they would be able to get the vaccine during school hours, saying it was a convenient and smooth process.

READ MORE: Why Leah and Eli's years as foster parents is the most rewarding

"Kids our age are very willing to stand up, they are very active in the community and we want to do our part to reach the end goal of the vaccination roll-out," Ms McCann said.

"It wasn't expecting it to be so organised. We got 15 minutes out of class and it was run very efficiently with the waiting room and a lollipop when we finished, which was very lovely.

"There is a large cohort of the students here that want the vaccine and it's a great opportunity to get it, without having to miss out on valuable school time."

Both girls have parents who work in healthcare so they said that the idea of the vaccine is something they were very familiar with.

READ MORE: Ill man fears homelessness after told to leave public housing

"My mum works in the health industry. Seeing all the students line up for their vaccine just shows we are doing our part, our little piece of the bigger puzzle," Ms Larby said.

Brad Wheeler from the Department of Health was onsite and was happy with the number of students they were able to vaccinate.

"It's so important because it's important to protect the community, families and the students themselves. It's really encouraging seeing the students turn up and responsibly taking part in the vaccine program," he said.

More than 508,000 doses have been administered to Tasmanians since they were made available in February. This means that now more than 66 per cent of eligible people in the state have had their first dose and 48.5 per cent have received their second.

READ MORE: Make-up artist jailed over $65k fraud

The schools' COVID-19 vaccination program is part of the Tasmanian government's "Super Six" week vaccination effort and is being delivered in conjunction with the Department of Education to vaccinate grade 11 and 12 students to minimise disruption to the study and examination schedule.

This also comes after the recent announcement that Tasmanians aged 12 to 15 are now eligible for COVID vaccinations, as approved by the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisations. Children are encouraged to attend vaccination clinics with a parent or guardian and have a completed consent form.

Clinics will then head around northern Tasmania for the North and North-West portion of the program, heading to Hellyer College later in the week as well as Newstead College, and independent and Catholic schools across the state.