All young people aged 16 and 17 and some 12- to 15-year-olds (see criteria below) are now eligible for the Covid-19 vaccination. They are encouraged to come forward for vaccination as soon as they are invited – eligible youngsters should wait to be contacted by the NHS, please do not contact us about recieveing the vaccine, the NHS will contact you. Alternatively 16-17 year olds can simply turn up at one of our vaccination centres – no appointment needed – more details below.
Vaccinating this group as soon as possible is important, ideally before return to schools and colleges and prior to autumn / winter.
Please don’t call your GP surgery / local doctor about this as we need to keep the phone lines free to help patients requiring appointments and urgent medical care. We will regularly update information on our web pages and social media channels so please keep checking back here.
Who is now eligible to be vaccinated
In line with guidance from the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the following children and young people are now eligible for vaccination:
- ALL young people aged 16 and 17.
- SOME children aged 12 to 15 who are:
- at increased risk of serious illness from COVID infection. This includes children with severe neurodisabilities, Down’s Syndrome, underlying conditions that result in immunosuppression and/or profound and multiple learning disabilities or severe learning disabilities; or
- household contacts of individuals (adults or children) who are immunosuppressed.
What vaccine will be used
Young people aged 16 and 17 will be offered a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine. They will not need parental consent to access a vaccination.
The following groups of 16 and 17 year olds (who have been eligible for some time as priority groups) will be offered 2 doses of the vaccine in line with established guidance:
- Those who are health and care workers. People working in CQC-registered care homes (including those aged 16-17) will need to be fully Covid-19 vaccinated with two doses by 11 November 2021, unless they have a medical exemption.
- Those who are clinically extremely vulnerable. Clinically extremely vulnerable individuals are described here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19/guidance-on-shielding-and-protecting-extremely-vulnerable-persons-from-covid-19.
- Those who have underlying health conditions which put them at higher risk of serious disease and mortality).
- Those who are in receipt of a carer’s allowance, or those who are the main carer of an elderly or disabled person whose welfare may be at risk if the carer falls ill.
- Those who share living accommodation on most days (and therefore for whom continuing close contact is unavoidable) with individuals who are immunosuppressed.
- Those who are within 3 months of their 18th
All other 16 and 17 year olds will currently be offered a SINGLE dose of the vaccine. Further guidance is expected to be issued regarding any future plans for second doses for this group. One dose of Pfizer reduces hospitalisation from Covid-related illness in this age group by around 80%.
Eligible children aged 12-15 (see 2a and 2b above) will be offered 2 doses of Pfizer vaccine, which is the only Covid-19 vaccine authorised for children (aged 12 and over) in the UK.
There are additional clinical and safeguarding requirements that vaccination sites must meet in order to vaccinate those aged 12-15 and 16-17. Not all of the places currently vaccinating adults will be able to vaccinate children and young people.
Vaccinations for 12-15 year olds
Currently, all eligible 12-15 year olds should wait for the NHS to contact them; please don’t contact us, the NHS will contact you
Vaccinations for 16-17 year olds
There are two ways for 16 and 17 year olds to get a vaccine:
- By invitation from the NHS; please do not contact us, the NHS will contact you
- By attending a walk-in clinic (no appointment needed) – please look for the ‘yes’ under the column ‘16/17 yr olds’