Lancashire public health boss reissues call for Covid jabs to be extended to 12-15 year-olds
Professor Dominic Harrison says the move is essential to stop the spread of Covid-19 in the winter
A public health boss has called for coronavirus jabs to be extended to East Lancashire 12 to 15-years-olds.
Professor Dominic Harrison said the move was essential to stop the local spread of the Delta variant of Covid-19 in the winter.
The Blackburn with Darwen Council director of public health made the call as he welcomed the NHS sending invitations to all 16 and 17-year-old in England for vaccination.
The letters urge them to go to their nearest walk-in centre or their GP to take up the offer.
They will be followed shortly by text messages to ensure the vaccination of as many 16 and 17-year-olds as possible ahead of their return to school.
Professor Harrison: said: “Directors of public health, and most NHS colleagues, really welcome the chance to finally get 16 and 17-year-olds protected with a Covid jab.
“Research shows this age group are also really keen to be given the chance to protect themselves with the vaccine and protect their families and wider community.
“Given what we know about the likely continuing spread of the virus over the coming winter and into next spring, it is highly likely that most young people will be exposed to Covid infection at some point.
“So the reality for children and young people not already infected is that the choice now is ‘vaccination or Covid’ – and of the two vaccination is the best option.
“The UK is now well behind most European countries and the USA in offering children vaccination. The evidence is that the vaccine is safe and effective for children and young people.
“Blackburn with Darwen has 23 per cent of its population under 16 and UK South Asian communities have 27 percent of their populations under 18.
“For our communities, the ‘cautious’ approach of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to agreeing UK vaccination of citizens aged 12-plus creates a much higher risk of lower overall vaccination protection going into the autumn and winter.
“I am sure JCVI are acting with goodwill and that they feel they are justified in being cautious.
“However, their ‘one size fits all’ decisions at national level leave some of us at much more risk than others.
“This is something Pennine Lancashire has had to deal with throughout the pandemic.”
Abdul Razaq, acting director of public health for Lancashire County Council, said: “Opening up vaccinations for 16 and 17-year-olds will help strengthen the wall of defence we are building around our adult population and, more importantly, offer protection to many young people as they return to education in September.”