Local Authority regarding Covid vaccinations
04 Apr 2022
Dear Parent/Carer - please find below a message from the Local Authority regarding Covid vaccinations. Kind regards, CCA
For decades, vaccinations have protected our children and young people from potentially serious diseases, including measles, flu, meningitis and mumps.
By the time they leave school, a child will typically have been offered vaccinations against 18 different diseases or infections – the COVID-19 vaccine is one more vaccine that children will be able to have to protect them from illness.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommends that 5-11 year olds be offered the vaccine, which has been approved by the UK’s medicines regulator, to boost immunity and increase their protection against any future waves of COVID-19.
From Monday 4 April, you will be able to get your child vaccinated at a site and time convenient for you – at either a vaccination centre, community pharmacy or GPs offering jabs for this age group. From Saturday 2 April you can view these sites and make an appointment through the National Booking Service or by calling 119.
Some walk-in sites are also available to vaccinate this age group. Simply check the walk-in finder website before attending to make sure they can vaccinate your child.
Children aged 5-11 with no other underlying health conditions will be offered two paediatric (child) doses of the vaccine, with at least 12 weeks between doses. A paediatric dose is smaller than doses given to those aged 12 and over.
If a child has had COVID-19 they will still get extra protection from the vaccine, but they will need to wait 12 weeks before getting vaccinated.
Those 5-11 year-olds who are more at risk from the virus can already get two paediatric (child) doses, eight weeks apart, and their GP or hospital specialist should have been in touch to arrange this, if not parents will be able book an appointment on the National Booking Service from 2 April.
