Greg Hunt (Flinders, Liberal Party, Minister for Health and Aged Care) Share this | Hansard source

To address the issue directly, as responded to by Professor Sharon Lewin, the head of the Doherty institute, in her interview on 23 August, only a few days ago: 'The additional benefit of 12- to 15-year-olds is not great in reducing transmission. We know that in 12- to 15-year-olds COVID is a nasty illness and we don't want children to get it, but very few children end up with severe disease or in hospital. That doesn't mean that 12- to 15-year-olds shouldn't be vaccinated. Yes, they should. Will they make a big difference to the modelling or opening up the plan? They don't make a big difference.' That was in response to the exact question posed by the opposition. That's why they have provided the advice to the government that the correct national cohort is 16-plus.

Ms Catherine King interjecting—

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