Orange's James Sheahan Catholic High offers school-based COVID-19 vaccination for students

All students aged aged 12 and over in years 7 to 12 are being offered the Moderna COVID-19 vaccination, which will be administered on site by accredited staff from North Orange Discount Pharmacy.

The school-based clinic comes after pharmacist Tim Denham made the offer to principal Peter Meers.

A first dose will be offered to students at school on November 8, with a second dose just prior to the end of the school term.

Those who wish to have their children vaccinated at school will have to complete a consent form, which was sent to parents and carers on Friday.

Principal Peter Meers said it was a "wonderful" opportunity for the school given it would help support the nationwide push to get 12-17-year-olds vaccinated.

"I know the government is now very much focused on trying to get high school aged children vaccinated, because as we get the greater population vaccinated they're key to stopping the spread of the virus. Certainly we're very keen to support the effort to do that," Mr Meers said.

James Sheahan has more than 1000 enrolled students, however Mr Meers said at this stage he was unsure how many would parents and carers would take up the offer.

Privacy laws mean the school has no record of student COVID vaccination, "but anecdotally I think a large number of our students have been," Mr Meers said.

"I think already a lot have, but it's just another opportunity to support parents and support our community in making it really convenient for parents," he added.

Mr Meers said increasing vaccination rates would help put an end to school closures and disruptions to learning.

"Getting that age group into high levels of vaccination is so important in terms of stopping schools closing and disruption to learning, as well as protecting families and community. It's so important to get that maximum vaccination in schools," he said.

While he was "not aware" of any other schools who were offering on-site vaccination at this stage, Mr Meers indicated he had been contacted by the federal COVID -19 Vaccine Taskforce last week asking how they could assist. "I'm sure they'll be contacting other schools as well," he said.

NSW is yet to roll out widespread on site vaccinations at public high schools. Other states including WA and SA have begun targeted school vaccination programs this term.

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