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The prime minister says a cautious approach will be taken to approving the COVID-19 vaccine for young children, as the national rollout for booster shots formally begins.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration is reviewing data from manufacturer Pfizer as to whether to approve the COVID vaccine for five to 11-year-olds.

US regulators signed off on the vaccine for the younger age group last week, paving the way for millions of American children to be vaccinated.

Speaking to reporters in Newcastle, Scott Morrison said Australian regulators needed to take their time before approving the child vaccines.

"We need to be very careful and cautious, and we won't take further steps unless there is clear medical advice that we should proceed," Mr Morrison said.

"Any parent would want the government to be as careful as possible, but particularly for children aged five to 11."

Medical experts have warned children would be at an increased risk of contracting COVID as more of the population aged 12 and over become fully vaccinated.

The TGA and the Australian Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation are yet to form an opinion on whether the vaccines for the younger age group should be approved.

Mr Morrison said vaccines for five to 11 year olds would be rolled out immediately once approval was granted.

It comes as COVID booster shots were formally rolled out to GPs and pharmacies across the country from Monday.

Those who have been fully immunised for more than six months will be able to receive the top-up Pfizer dose, regardless of which brand they were vaccinated with originally.

The third dose has already been made available for the immunocompromised as well as those in disability and aged care.

Health Minister Greg Hunt said the booster program was off to a flying start.

"We are already at 173,000 people who have had their boosters," Mr Hunt told the Seven Network on Monday.

"GPs, state clinics, commonwealth clinics, Indigenous medical centres, aged care and disability have been vaccinating people with boosters, so it's a great start."

However, medical researchers are still examining whether a yearly COVID booster would be needed, like the flu shot, or if three doses would provide enough protection.

Mr Morrison said the booster shots would provide important protection as states and territories eased COVID restrictions.

NSW recorded 187 new COVID-19 cases of in the latest reporting period, with seven deaths.

There were 1126 new infections in Victoria and five deaths, while the ACT had 13 cases.

Queensland registered no cases on Monday.

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The wife of a shark attack victim who is yet to be found has described her husband as a "lovely man" and a "wonderful father".

Paul Millachip, 57, is believed to have been taken by a shark while swimming at a beach in North Fremantle in Perth on Saturday morning.

"Rest in peace Paul," his wife said at a news conference on Sunday afternoon.

"He died doing what he enjoyed doing the most, which was exercising."

She thanked authorities for "being extremely thorough" and the witnesses who helped explain what had happened.

Mr Millachip was last seen swimming at Port Beach, as he did regularly, on Saturday morning.

Two teenagers on a boat saw what they believed was a shark attack and called emergency services.

Police said there was an extensive marine search for the father of two, which would be suspended on Sunday afternoon.

The search turned up a pair of goggles believed to belong to Mr Millachip.

"A family is now grieving, a man has lost his life. It's a terribly sad situation," WA Premier Mark McGowan said earlier on Sunday.

All beaches in the area will remain remain closed at least until Monday.

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Sydney's mass COVID-19 vaccination hub at Qudos Bank Arena will be closed, while protesters have gathered across NSW ahead of restrictions further easing.

Premier Dominic Perrottet announced the centre would shut its doors on Sunday, after delivering more than 360,000 vaccine doses since opening on August 9.

The arena will return to hosting sport and entertainment events from Monday.

Mr Perrottet said it was an important milestone in the state's vaccination program, as it transitions to giving booster shots to adults who received their second jab six months ago.

"It is very clear that this booster program here in our state is going to be critical in order to keep people safe and ensure we can keep NSW open," he told reporters while touring the new Granville Centre vaccination clinic.

The centre in Sydney's west can deliver up to 1000 vaccine doses a day and will open on Monday, when restrictions ease across the state for vaccinated people.

Under the previously flagged changes, there will be no limit on home visitors and as many as 1000 people can gather outdoors.

Hospitality venue density limits move to one person per two square metres, while stadiums, racecourses, theme parks, zoos, cinemas and theatres can operate at 100 per cent of their fixed-seated capacity.

Unvaccinated NSW residents, however, have to wait until December 15 or when the state reaches a 95 per cent double-vaccination rate to enjoy greater freedoms.

Hundreds of protesters largely dressed in white came together in spots such as Parramatta, the Central Coast, Wollongong and Coolangatta on the Queensland-NSW border as part of "Reclaim The Line" rallies on Sunday, opposing vaccine mandates.

NSW is on the brink of hitting 90 per cent full vaccination of people aged 16 and over, with 89.8 per cent now double-dosed.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the closure of Qudos Bank Arena would not lead to a further slowdown of the state's vaccination rate.

"We're now in the tougher end of the vaccination (program) ... where people who have been reluctant for a variety of reasons are now contemplating whether or not they should be vaccinated," he said.

"They are coming forward but they're coming forward more slowly."

It comes as another 244 local COVID-19 cases were reported in NSW along with one death, an unvaccinated man in his 60s from Albury who died at Melbourne's Box Hill Hospital.

His death brings the state's toll throughout the pandemic to 593, with 537 of those coming from the current Delta outbreak.

There are 269 patients battling the virus in hospitals across the state, 52 of whom are in intensive care.

COVID-19 continues to spread in regional NSW, with more than half of new infections outside Sydney.

Of the 244 local cases reported to 8pm on Saturday, 77 were detected in the Hunter New England health district, 20 on the mid north coast, 17 in Murrumbidgee and nine in western NSW.

Virus fragments were also detected in samples collected from other regional areas where there are no recent known cases, including Bermagui, Moruya, Young, Gulargambone and Cobar.

Anyone in these areas with symptoms is urged to immediately get tested and isolate until they receive a negative result.

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Australia may be on track to have one of the highest vaccination rates in the world but that's not stopping health officials launching another push to get stragglers immunised.

Australia has passed a major milestone of having 80 per cent of the national population aged 16 and over fully vaccinated with two COVID-19 inoculations.

"COVID will be in the community in each and every area of Australia over time as we open up," Deputy Chief Medical Official Sonya Bennett told reporters on Sunday.

"Everyone will be at risk of being exposed to COVID. The best way to protect yourself against diseases is to get vaccinated."

Meanwhile, Northern Territory Chief Minister Michael Gunner is extending the three-day lockdown in Greater Darwin by 24 hours until midnight on Monday, while Katherine went from a lockdown to a lockout at 3 pm.

He said the source of the outbreak is now known but the additional time was needed for contact testing.

"If all goes well, Katherine will exit the lockout with Darwin at midnight tomorrow," Mr Gunner said.

While Australia's vaccination rollout is going from strength to strength, the death toll from the coronavirus continues to climb.

Victoria on Sunday reported another nine fatalities, while recording 1173 new infections.

In NSW there were 244 new cases and one death.

The ACT avoided adding to the death toll - which now stands at 1815 nationally - but recorded 13 new infections.

Queensland also announced three new cases, one a traveller from Melbourne who was possibly infectious while on the flight.

NSW is freeing up its Olympic Park arena vaccination hub to allow it to return to staging sport and entertainment events.

Health Minister Brad Hazzard said the closure would not slow the state's vaccination rate, which is now on the brink of hitting 90 per cent for those aged 16 over and fully jabbed.

"We're now in the tougher end of the vaccination (program) ... where people who have been reluctant for a variety of reasons are now contemplating whether or not they should be vaccinated," he said.

"They are coming forward but they're coming forward more slowly."

Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews has unveiled a $44 million package to revitalise Melbourne's CBD.

From November 15, diners will be able to reclaim 30 per cent of their food and beverage bills - up to $150 - between Monday and Thursday each week.

The package also includes $10.4 million to help businesses trade outdoors and at night, $15.7 million to boost the city's events calendar, $14 million to revitalise public areas and $3.6 million to provide an enhanced business concierge service.

"This is about getting people back to the CBD," Mr Andrews told reporters.

"Having people not only visiting but spending, and that's all about jobs. It's all about recovering what we lost."

ACT Health is working with nine schools across the territory to actively manage COVID-19 cases.

It and the Education Directorate want to ensure COVID Safe plans are in place to minimise transmission where a positive case may attend school while infectious.

"These school communities have been contacted and all impacted students and staff are receiving support from ACT Health and the Education Directorate," ACT Health said in a statement.

Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk says Queensland is likely to hit 80 per cent of its 16-plus population with at least their first vaccine dose by Tuesday.

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