• 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 Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has approved the use of the COVID-19 Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine for people aged 5 years+ and Spikevax (Moderna) vaccine for people aged 6 years+ in Australia.

ATAGI has also recommended the Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine as a booster dose for adolescents aged 16-17 years.

Check the latest vaccination 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.

The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) has approved the use of the COVID-19 Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine for people aged 5 years+ and Spikevax (Moderna) vaccine for people aged 6 years+ in Australia.

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.

These doses should be given eight weeks apart for both the Comirnaty (Pfizer) and Spikevax (Moderna) vaccines.

• Children aged 5 years and over receive the Pfizer (Comirnaty) COVID-19 vaccine.
• Children aged 6 years and over can receive the Moderna (Spikevax) COVID-19 vaccine.

Once your child has received their first dose, an appointment for their second dose should be made for you by the clinic.

COVID-19 vaccinations should be delayed for three months after a COVID-19 infection, regardless of age or which dose/booster is scheduled.

The influenza (flu) vaccine can be given on the same day as the COVID-19 vaccine.

Comirnaty (Pfizer) vaccine as a booster dose for adolescents aged 12-15 years who meet at least one of the following criteria:

• are severely immunocompromised
• have a disability with significant or complex health needs
• have complex and/or multiple health conditions that increase the risk of severe COVID-19.

Note: You must wait three months after the second vaccine, before getting a booster.

• a medical condition that increases the risk of severe COVID-19 illness
• people with disability who have significant or complex health needs, or multiple co-morbidities which increase the risk of poor outcomes from COVID-19.

Healthy people aged 16 to 64 years, who do not have a risk factor for severe COVID-19, are not recommended to receive an additional winter booster dose as their risk of severe illness after their first booster is likely to remain very low.

Make sure you book your next vaccination appointment as soon as possible after this period. If you get COVID-19 again, you are less likely to experience severe disease if you have been vaccinated.

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.

Please ensure you tell the immunisation provider if your child has ever had a severe allergic reaction or anaphylaxis before they have the vaccine so they can monitor them closely for a longer period if required.

If your child reacts to a particular food or medication such as an antibiotic, they are NOT at an increased risk of anaphylaxis following COVID-19 vaccination.

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.

Restrictions remain for people who are:

• a close contact or diagnosed case of COVID-19
• international arrivals (for the first 7 days after arriving in Queensland)

These requirements will help keep our patients, families and staff safe from COVID-19.

See Visiting our facilities for more information.

Feeling unwell?

It continues to be important for family members and other visitors to stay away from the hospital if they are unwell, as they could pass an infection to your child or other children. Please also tell our staff if you or your child has had contact with someone who has recently been sick.

These requirements will help keep our patients, families and staff safe from COVID-19, influenza (flu) and other respiratory or other infections circulating in the community.