Children's vaccine rollout kicks off as government warns of Omicron threat

It has been a milestone day on the country's Covid-19 vaccine calendar with four-month booster bookings open and the first primary school children receiving a paediatric dose.

More than 120,000 doses of the child (paediatric) Pfizer vaccine have been delivered to more than 500 vaccination sites around New Zealand as health providers today began the roll-out of Covid-19 vaccinations for children.

James Schorfield was among the first five-to-11 year olds to go to a walk-up appointment at the Mt Wellington vaccination centre, where he encountered special guest Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern.

He said his advice to friends was that the jab was "easier" than expected.

"It only takes like two seconds to get it done and over with," he said.

The children's dose is one third of the adult vaccine's strength, administered with a smaller needle, and it can now be booked online at one of 500 sites, or done at a walk-up clinic if accompanied by a parent.

James' mother Camilla was also able to roll up her sleeves and get a booster today, with online bookings now available for people who got a second dose at least four months ago.

"It's everybody's option to do it or not and I choose to be safe rather than sorry. With people overseas, and my family, getting Covid - there's just no ifs buts or maybes about getting it done," she said.

While checking in on how health practitioners were faring, Ardern got her booster shot at the same site.

She thanked healthcare workers for their mahi and said it was pleasing to see people had lined up to be the first through the door at vaccination clinics this morning.

"Where we see that extra demand we move very quickly to make sure we've got extra support in their to meet that extra demand. You'll see that some of those lines have been clearing quickly."

More than 66,000 people had used the Book My Vaccine website by midday, she said, and just over 80 percent of New Zealand's population would be eligible for a booster dose by the end of next month.

That demand comes despite anti-vax protesters roaming outside some vaccination sites which police said they were aware of and monitoring.

Today Ardern also acknowledged the elephant in the room: work was underway to get ready for community spread of Omicron, she said.

She noted that the variant had led to 200 patients in ICU in New South Wales, which she said would put an "incredible strain" on any healthcare system.

"Over the course of the summer through extraordinary hard work, and a plan we have been very deliberate about, we have seen that New Zealanders have had the break that we hoped that they would get. But we know with Omicron it is a case of when, not if. That is why the booster campaign is so critical," she said.

"What I expect is over the coming weeks to continue to share with you some of the additional work that is being done - over and above all of the work that we did on Delta - for the specific issue of Omicron and what it represents. We have the ability to learn from other nations."

The same issue was also acknowledged by developmental paediatrician Dr Jin Russell who said it was not true children would not get sick or hospitalised if they catch Covid-19.

She was pleased with what she saw at the vaccination centre today to make it easy for whānau.

"We need to help children feel comfortable. They've made the spaces really child friendly. A lot of vaccinators have been trained in how to especially help children cope," she said.

Some children preferred to stay in the car and go to a drive-through site, she said.

"A good idea is to talk to your child in advance and see what would work best for them. Give your children the kind of options that are sensible, like they can choose what arm they want to have, they might have a soft toy they want to bring along," she said.

Booster and child vaccinations can be made on the Book My Vaccine website.

It is recommended children return for a second dose eight weeks after their first.