Tasmanian government says no jab, no school vaccine mandate for 5 to 11 year olds has never been considered

When asked yesterday whether primary school students of this age group would need to be vaccinated against COVID-19 to attend school, it failed to answer the question.

A government spokesman clarified today that a vaccine mandate for school children is not under consideration, "and has never" been considered.

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The state government is not considering, "and has never" considered, a 'no jab, no school' vaccine mandate for Tasmanian kids aged 5 to 11 years old

"As we have said, we will continue to take Public Health advice on vaccination for five to 11-year-olds, noting that there is no TGA approval for a vaccine for this age group at this time," he said.

Confusion over school start dates for 2022 and the risks that school attendance might pose for the unvaccinated age group of 5 to 11 year olds arose yesterday after Premier Peter Gutwein was questioned in Parliament on the matter.

Mr Gutwein said on Tuesday that delays to the 2022 school year may occur.

"I have already indicated to the secretary of the Department of Education that if we need to, we will look at the starting date of the school year to ensure we can get that vaccination level up to as high a level as possible," Mr Gutwein said.

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On Wednesday he repeatedly stated that state schools will reopen on February 9.

The ability of 5 to 11 year olds to receive COVID-19 vaccinations will not be known until national approval for this cohort is given, which could be sometime in January.

This week Victorian premier Daniel Andrews did not rule out the possibility that students aged 5 to 11 in that state may be subjected to a vaccine mandate for school attendance.

The health minister in Victoria Martin Foley also did not rule out the possibility that these unvaccinated children would be locked out of hospitality venues, for safety reasons.

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