This website is intended for healthcare professionals

News

One million families with five and six year olds invited for COVID jabs

Vaccination
Invitations will be sent to more than one million families with five and six-year-olds this week, as the NHS continues the COVID-19 vaccination programme

Invitations will be sent to more than one million families with five and six-year-olds this week, as the NHS continues the COVID-19 vaccination programme.

Recent JCVI guidance recommended all children between 5 – 11 would benefit from a non-urgent offer of the COVID vaccine, helping protect against potential future waves of the virus, with almost five million youngsters now eligible. Invitations being sent to families this week will set out how easy and convenient it is to take up the offer of a vaccine as part of the NHS COVID vaccination programme by booking through the National Booking Service, or visiting their nearest walk-in site.

To read more on this topic, visit:

  1. COVID-19 vaccine programme delivers first Spring boosters
  2. Staff to continue to benefit from free COVID-19 testing
  3. COVID-19 has shown how important language is for effective infection prevention

‘It is great to see so many families already booked in for their children to receive their COVID vaccine this week, helping to protect themselves against potential future waves of the virus,’ said Dr Nikki Kanani, GP and Deputy Lead for the NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme.

‘Local vaccine sites are making it as easy as possible for families and allowing for longer appointment times so that families can discuss their decisions, and make sure it is a less daunting experience for youngsters.’

Between now and Sunday (April 25 to May 1), there are already more than 33,500 children aged five to 11 booked in for their dose of the life-saving vaccine, with a further 50,000 slots still available.

The JCVI has advised that all children aged between 5 to 11 will be offered two doses with an interval of at least 12 weeks between doses (or 8 weeks for children who have medical conditions that put them at increased risk from COVID-19 or who live with someone with a weakened immune system.)

‘The COVID vaccine is the best way to protect yourself and those around you as we learn to live with the virus,’ said Minister for Health, Maggie Throup.

‘Parents can, if they want to, continue to take up the offer to increase their family’s protection against potential future waves of COVID – local vaccine sites or pharmacies are open outside of school hours and clinicians are more than happy to offer advice and ease any concerns parents or children might have.’