The JCVI has recommended that children aged 12 and over who are at increased risk of serious Covid-19 disease should be vaccinated. This includes children with severe neuro disabilities, Down’s syndrome, immunosuppression and multiple or severe learning disabilities. They have also recommended that children aged 12 and over who live with an immunosuppressed person should be offered the vaccination to help protect that person.
Previously this only applied to children aged 16-17 who fall in these categories, who should already have been offered a vaccination.
Vaccinating children requires additional training and prescribing arrangements to be put in place so we are not able to start doing this straight away. We are working to meet all the necessary safety requirements so that we can start offering vaccinations to these children from 23 August, in line with national guidance.
Families of children who are eligible will be contacted to arrange appointments at a suitable service.
Please wait to be contacted rather than calling your GP practice or attending a local vaccination service, as they will not be able to offer vaccinations until all the necessary arrangements have been put in place.
Are children going to be vaccinated too?
At the moment, the JCVI has advised that only certain groups of children should be vaccinated. These are children aged 12 and over who live with someone who is immunosuppressed or who have a specific condition that puts them at increased risk of serious Covid-19 disease. This includes children with severe neuro disabilities, Down’s syndrome, immunosuppression and multiple or severe learning disabilities. There are currently no plans for routine vaccination of children.
Which vaccine will children be offered?
Currently, the only vaccine authorised in the UK for those under 18s is the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine so this will be offered to all children who are eligible for a vaccination.
When will vaccinations for at-risk 12-15 years olds be available?
The JCVI is now recommending that children aged 12 and over who are at increased risk of serious Covid-19 disease should be vaccinated. This includes children with severe neuro disabilities, Down’s syndrome, immunosuppression and multiple or severe learning disabilities.
Vaccinating children requires additional training and prescribing arrangements to be put in place so we are not able to start doing this straight away. We are working to meet all the necessary safety requirements so that we can start offering vaccinations to these children from 23 August, in line with national guidance.
Families of children who are eligible will be contacted to arrange appointments at a suitable service. Please wait to be contacted rather than calling your GP practice or attending a local vaccination service, as they will not be able to offer vaccinations until all the necessary arrangements have been put in place.
What about at risk 16-17-year-olds?
The JCVI had previously already recommended that children aged 16-17 who are at increased risk from Covid-19 should be vaccinated so these children will already have been offered a vaccination.