The COVID-19 vaccines are safe and effective, and have been approved for use in people aged 12 and over in Australia because clinical trials, real-world data from other countries, and a thorough regulatory process have proven them safe for children.
It’s important to vaccinate adolescents as younger age groups are now more at risk of catching and transmitting COVID-19 due to the Delta variant.1
In Australia, the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommend Pfizer and Moderna for all people aged 12 and over.1
ATAGI developed these recommendations by carefully considering the benefits, risks and evidence of vaccination for children aged 12 to 15.1 This included:
- safety, efficacy and effectiveness of COVID-19 vaccines in adolescents from clinical trials and overseas vaccination programs
- epidemiology of COVID-19 in adolescents including disease severity and complications, and their role in transmission in the population
- safety of COVID-19 vaccines, including risk of myocarditis and pericarditis after receiving mRNA vaccines in adolescents and young adults reported overseas.1
ATAGI concluded that the benefits of offering COVID-19 vaccination to people aged 12 to 15 years outweighed the known or potential risks.1
The United States has been vaccinating people aged 12 to 15 since mid-May 2021:
- over 45% have received one dose
- over 33% have received two doses.1
Israel has been vaccinating people aged 12 to 15 years since in early June 2021:
- over 55% have received one dose
- over 43% have received one doses.3
Canada has been vaccinating people aged 12 to 15 since mid-May 2021:
- over 84% of 12 to 17 year olds have received one dose
- over 75% of 12 to 17 year olds have received two doses.4
The safety data of Pfizer and Moderna from clinical trials and safety surveillance overseas shows that COVID-19 vaccines are safe for adolescents.1
Evidence from clinical trials of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine found that the vaccine was 100% effective for children aged 12 to 15 years (7 days after the second dose).1 The immune response was higher in this group of participants than those aged 16 to 25.1 In children aged 12 to 17 years, those who had Moderna were around 93% less likely to have COVID-19 symptoms than people who did not get the vaccine.2
More information
- BBC News Covid: Which countries are vaccinating children and why?
- NPS Medicinewise COVID-19 vaccination in children and adolescents
- The New England Journal of Medicine Safety, Immunogenicity, and Efficacy of the BNT162b2 Covid-19 Vaccine in Adolescents
- ABC News Moderna vaccine approved for children 12 years and older, in line with Pfizer vaccine
- Pfizer Pfizer-BioNtech announce positive topline results of pivotal COVID-19 vaccine study in adolescents
