• fever (or history of fever) OR respiratory symptoms (cough, sore throat, shortness of breath). Children may also experience other symptoms, such as runny nose, headache, loss of smell, loss of taste, nausea or vomiting, muscle pain, joint pain, fatigue, diarrhoea, or a loss of appetite. Symptoms can vary depending on each case.
• People in quarantine, in accordance with current quarantine protocols.
• Contacts of confirmed or suspect cases.

Please be assured our testing staff will make sure your child is comfortable and settled before performing the test.

If you child is sensitive about being touched or gets scared or aggravated in a medical setting, let staff know so they can work with your child in a way that keeps them calm.

Saliva testing is a test that uses the saliva from your mouth to test for COVID-19. The throat and nasal swab (also called PCR testing) remains the best test for anyone with symptoms because it is more accurate. At this time, the saliva test is only used as a screening test for some people without symptoms who will need frequent testing (people who are asymptomatic). Children often find it difficult to produce saliva for tests, so this may not prove appropriate for children.

PCR tests are generally more sensitive and accurate at detecting a current or recent infection. This test must be conducted at a COVID testing clinic by a health professional and results will usually take at least 24 hours. This is the best test to use if your child has symptoms.

A RAT kit is best used when your child is a close contact and has no symptoms. Kits can be purchased at various locations such as supermarkets and pharmacies, where available. Kits may also be provided at some COVID testing clinics. A RAT can be conducted at home and usually takes 15-30 minutes to give a result.

You can use a PCR test or RAT kit to test your child for COVID-19.

Children and adults will only need to self-isolate if they have been in contact with someone who has a confirmed case of COVID-19.

Please notify any household members or house-hold like contacts (a person who has spent more than four hours with the diagnosed person in a house or other place of accommodation care facility or similar) of the positive result and tell them to isolate and get tested.

If you haven’t done so, report your positive RAT result to Queensland Health. You do not need to take a PCR test to confirm a positive RAT result.

With current high case and testing numbers, results may take longer than usual. If you are concerned, please contact 134 HEALTH.

The Pfizer vaccine has been clinically tested and proven safe and effective for people aged 5 years and older.

Read the latest information for children, young people and parents.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) then reviews the available data on the safety and efficacy, the risk of COVID 19 infection for a specific group, and evidence of wider benefits and risks of vaccination.
Research from the United States supports the safety of the Pfizer vaccine in children aged 12 years and older. A trial of more than 2,200 adolescents showed the vaccine was safe and effective in reducing infection and produced a detectable immune response.
The clinical trial data for COVID-19 vaccination in children aged 5-11 years also shows the Pfizer vaccine is safe and effective.
If you have specific clinical questions about the vaccination, please speak to your child’s treating specialist or General Practitioner.

• Queensland Health vaccination location
  Registering your child online is the best way to secure an appointment at a Queensland Health vaccination location, including the Queensland Children’s Hospital. Walk-in appointments are available at selected locations, but cannot be guaranteed.

Once you have registered, you will receive an email inviting you to book an appointment in your local area when appointments become available.

Note: Parents and carers should follow the steps in this guide: Register and book on behalf of someone else (PDF). If you need help making a booking on behalf of your child, contact 134 COVID (134 268).

• Participating GP or Pharmacy
  Book via the Australian Government Vaccine Clinic Finder and choose a location near you.

For young people aged 12 to 17 years, the second dose of the Pfizer vaccine should be administered between 3 and 6 weeks from the first.

It’s recommended children aged 5 to 11 receive their second dose of the Pfizer vaccine 8 weeks after the first dose.

Once your child has received their first dose, an appointment for their second dose should be made for you by the clinic. The recommended wait time between having a COVID-19 vaccine and other vaccines, including the seasonal influenza vaccine, is seven (7) days.

Yes, vaccinations for children aged 5-11 years can be booked via the Queensland Health website.

Additionally, physical distancing, good hand and respiratory hygiene are all important preventative actions we can take to prevent COVID-19 infection.

If there are any changes to your child’s outpatient appointment, we will contact you directly.

If you have any queries about your child’s outpatient appointment, please call the Children’s Health Queensland Outpatient Call Centre on 1300 762 831.

Children under 12 are not required to wear a mask but encouraged to wear one if they are willing to. It is not recommended that children under the age of two wear a mask for safety reasons. Face masks will be provided at the entry to the Queensland Children’s Hospital.

Read more about how to safely wear a face mask for you and your family.

To protect the health and safety of patients, staff and other visitors, you should not visit the hospital if you:

• are unwell
• have been diagnosed with COVID-19 or asked to quarantine
• have returned from overseas in the last 14 days (excluding safe travel zone countries)
• have had contact with a person with COVID-19 in the last 14 days
• have visited a COVID-19 hotspot in the last 14 days or since the hotspot was declared (whichever is shorter)
• have visited an interstate exposure venue in the last 14 days unless an exemption has been granted for an end of life visit
• have been in an interstate area of concern in the last 14 days or since the identified start date (whichever is shorter), unless they have received a negative COVID-19 test since entering Queensland
• have been tested for COVID-19 and are waiting to receive the results (except for tests due to surveillance testing obligations)
• have COVID-19 symptoms of fever (37.5 degrees or more), cough, shortness of breath, sore throat, loss of smell or taste, runny nose, diarrhoea, nausea, vomiting or fatigue.

On arrival at the Queensland Children’s Hospital, you will be asked a series of questions about your current health. We understand this may cause a short delay, but we appreciate your patience and support in helping us keep everyone at the hospital safe.

Where possible, and when clinically safe to do so, the hospital may reschedule non-urgent appointments or offer appointments via phone or video conference. If there are any changes to your child’s appointment, we will contact you directly.

For more information about entering Queensland for essential health care, visit the Queensland Health website.

Families who live in or have visited a declared hotspot in the past 14 days are no longer required to have a day 5 COVID-19 PCR test.

You can also contact the Queensland Children’s Hospital Welfare Service for support during this time. To speak to the team, phone 07 3068 2940 (8am-6pm, Monday to Friday) or email QCH-welfare@health.qld.gov.au. For support on weekends and public holidays, contact QCH Switchboard on 3068 1111 and asked to be transferred to the Social Work team.