NHS teams will visit more than 50 schools across the North West to deliver the COVID-19 vaccine to 12-15-year olds this week, as young people return to the classroom.
School Aged Immunisation Service providers are going back into schools after half term to offer children aged 12 to 15 a chance to get vaccinated, with consent from a parent or guardian.
Recently, the national booking system opened so that young people could visit existing vaccination centres across the country together with their parents as an extra way to get vaccinated during half term and beyond.
Thousands of families were quick to book in to get their children protected and around 163,000 young people nationally received their jab in the week after the booking system opened up (Oct 23 – 30).
So far, more than 67,000 health 12 to 15-year-olds have been vaccinated in the North West through the in and out of school offers. The NHS has visited more than 300 schools in the region since rolling out the jab to 12 to 15-year-olds at the end of September.
Parents and children aged 12 to 15 will be able to continue to get their jab both at school and by booking in at a vaccine centre online through the National Booking Service. A growing number of sites are now also offering walk-in options to 12 to 15-year-olds.
In the North West, more than 10.8 million vaccines have been given since the COVID-19 vaccination programme started in December 2020, part of more than 86 million vaccinations delivered nationally.
Dr Linda Charles-Ozuzu, Regional Director of Commissioning and Senior Responsible Officer for the Vaccination Programme in the North West, said, “It’s been wonderful to see so many young people coming along to vaccine clinics across the North West with their parents or guardians during half-term.
“By continuing to also offer the vaccine in schools, we’re making it as easy and convenient as possible for children to be vaccinated and get that vital protection for themselves and those around them this winter.
“I’d urge parents and children to read the information they’re being sent about the vaccine so that they can make an informed decision together.”