From the end of today (Friday 22 October) parents of 12-15 year old children will be able to book COVID-19 vaccinations online.
The option comes an an extension to the existing programme, hoped to help increase the number of 12-15 year old children to receive the vaccination, and offer the opportunity to get vaccinated during school half-term.
NHS England is writing to parents to advise them of the option and the process to book online.
Dr Nikki Kanani, GP and deputy lead for the NHS vaccine programme, said: “As we head in to October half term, the NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme is opening up vaccine centres to young people aged 12 to 15 as another way to get their vaccine – if they have already received their vaccine or been invited through their school then they do not need to do anything.
“The decision to get vaccinated has always been a private choice between a child and their parent or guardian – my 13-year-old son received his vaccine at school on the same day I had my booster dose in a local pharmacy. I would urge families to look at the information together and then book in to give children and their loved ones crucial protection ahead of winter.”
Lead for NHS vaccination programme for school aged children, Nick Hulme, added: “The schools-based vaccination drive builds on the hugely successful NHS COVID vaccination programme, which has delivered more than 83 million doses to nine in ten adults, and the well-established school immunisation services that vaccinate children every year.
“By offering an additional way to get vaccinated, the next phase of the roll out will make it even more accessible and convenient for school children to get vaccinated.”
