THE rollout of coronavirus vaccines for kids aged 12-15 has started today across the UK with up to three million kids being eligible for the shot.
The program will be delivered mostly through schools across the country.
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So far in the UK over 48.5 million people have had a first dose of a Covid jab – with 44.4 million now having had a second.
To target the waning immunity of those who received their vaccines in the initial stages, booster jabs will also be available.
All children who receive their vaccines will be given one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
Schools are now distributing Jabs and staff have been warned not to engage in misinformation campaigns about vaccines.
The consent of parents is not required if a child wants to receive the vaccine. However, children will be able to decide for themselves if they do so.
England’s chief medical officer Professor Chris Whitty has said for the “great majority of cases, children and their parents come to the same decision”.
Last week, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) said it was aware some schools have been receiving campaign letters and emails with “misinformation” about the vaccine programme.
Its guidance stated: “In the event of a protest or disruptive activity outside a school, or if schools know a protest is planned, they should alert the SAIS (School Age Immunisation Service) provider, local authority and police contacts to discuss the best way to manage the situation.”
The rollout for 12 to 15-year-olds is also beginning in Scotland and Wales this week.
You can drop-in to a clinic or wait for a letter confirming your appointment.
The mass vaccination centres in Wales and certain school settings will carry out jabs for children.
The head of Northern Ireland’s vaccination program said that jabs will be given to children between 12 and 15 years old in schools starting October.
Adam Finn, a professor of paediatrics and member of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), said the decision on whether to jab 12 to 15-year-olds is not black and white, adding that while it is not “essential” for them to have a coronavirus vaccine, it is also “perfectly sensible” for them to do so.
While the JCVI ruled that mass vaccinations of 12-15-year olds was not recommended for health reasons, they also suggested that more important issues like disruptions in education should be considered and evaluated by the UK’s chief medical officers.
The jabs being administered to school-aged children will prevent the virus from spreading among this age group, according to the JCVI.
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