Appointments have now opened for children aged between five and 11 at the Wimmera Health Care Group's vaccination clinic.

Vaccines are set to begin on January 10, with children recommended to get two jabs for full effectiveness, spaced eight weeks apart.

Grampians sub-hub vaccine rollout coordinator Genevieve Lilley said the children's vaccine had a different dilution to the adult Pfizer jab, and contained a smaller dose.

"They have done a lot of vaccines for children in this age group overseas, and they do seem to have very mild side effects. Similar to adults but milder. It is the same vaccine, but a different dilution," she said.

A 15 minute observation period after getting the vaccine still remains for children.

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Parents can book a vaccine appointment by calling the state's COVID booking hotline or by booking online.

Children's vaccines will also be available at Lister House's vaccination centre, located at the Uptempo Cafe on Dimboola Road, starting January 10.

Ms Lilley said the Wimmera Health Care Group had plans to operate pop-up vaccine clinics at schools across the regions in the coming weeks.

She said parents who were unable to book an appointment over the phone could wait until the school rollout began.

"We are in the process of trying to plan community-based pop-ups, probably in schools. We will also keep running availability at the clinic for people who prefer to do it that way," she said.

Ms Lilley said despite children often having milder symptoms of COVID, there was still a risk if they remained unvaccinated.

"Children do seem to have a milder illness with COVID, however, we have seen some cases of children getting sick and dying, although they are rare," she said.

"Children are also extremely likely, even without being sick, to transmit the virus through the community.

"We are seeing an emerging crisis in our health care system, so anywhere we can reduce the spread of the virus is a way to help protect our health care system and our whole community.

"It is getting really, really difficult for the health care service to keep running. They are already running below their usual capacity because so many staff are furloughed, so getting as many people as possible in the community vaccinated is absolutely essential."

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