NHS expands COVID vaccinations to the most vulnerable 5 to 11 year olds
Who can get the vaccine?
Children aged 5 -11 who are in a clinical risk group or who live with someone who is in immunosuppressed will be able to get the first dose of the COVID vaccine. There are around 500,000 eligible children in this group. This includes those with diabetes, learning disabilities, and other conditions impacting the immune system.
How will it work?
Parents and guardians should wait for the NHS to contact them for when it is their child’s turn to get the vaccine with local NHS teams already contacting those who are eligible. GP led teams have been identifying eligible children ahead of vaccinations starting to help get jabs into arms as quickly as possible.
Over 850 sites have already signed up to help – with vaccinations to 5-11 year olds being delivered initially by GP led vaccination teams and hospital hubs. All eligible 5-11 year olds will be offered two 10 microgram doses of the Pfizer vaccine eight weeks apart – a third of the amount used for adult vaccinations.
We know vaccines give significant protection against severe illness from COVID – including the omicron variant, so it is important that our youngest and most at-risk get protected. We are asking parents not to delay coming forward – as soon as the NHS contacts you, please come forward so the NHS can protect their youngest against the virus
When can they get the vaccine?
Parents and guardians are asked to attend with their children and are asked to read the patient information they will be sent in advance of arriving for their appointment.
Eligible children will get a second dose eight weeks after their first dose. They cannot get either jab until four weeks after a positive test for coronavirus.
Take a look at our vaccination page to see where you can get vaccinations in Coventry
Children can also get the flu vaccine
The NHS is also reminding parents and guardians that their children can continue to get protection from flu. Most children can get a free flu vaccine this winter, including all two and three year olds and all pupils from reception age to school leavers.
Young people aged four to 16 will have been offered the flu vaccination through their school, but parents can phone 119 to find out how to book a jab if they do not have an appointment planned in school already.
