Epidemiologist Professor Adrian Esterman has called for Australians as young as 12 to receive a COVID-19 vaccine.

It comes as The Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (ATAGI) recommended that children aged 12-15 be included in the vaccine rollout.

Professor Esterman says it’s about reducing transmission.

“Children do get infected, they can get infected, and they can pass it on,” he told Liam Bartlett on 6PR Mornings.

“The key here is that when children do get infected with the virus they usually only have very, very mild symptoms.

“It’s extremely unusual for a kid to get so sick from COVID-19 they have to go hospital … but the key here is not so much they can get sick from it but that they can pass it on.

“The solution is, yes we should vaccinate them, but they shouldn’t be a top priority.”

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