12-15 year olds in Wales offered vaccine jab this week
Letters are being sent out for children to get their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine
Last updated 20th Sep 2021
Wales' efforts to vaccinate the country against Covid-19 have taken another step as 12-15 year olds will be able to book their first jabs from this week.
First Minister Mark Drakeford has been encouraging parents to talk to their children about having their first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, which will be given from 4th October.
He says that having another few weeks before the vaccines are actually administered "will give families the time they need to talk about vaccination and to make those individual decisions."
Despite there being a debate over the need to get children vaccinated, Swansea University professor Simon Williams says parents are largely in favour of their children having the vaccine:
"Anywhere between 7-8 out of 10 parents have stated an intention to have their children vaccinated."
The Senior Lecturer in People and Organisations also explained that there was little risk for any child between the 12-15 age gap that decided to get a vaccine:
“Even though it’s a complicated, emotional and ethical decision for many parents and children, the absolute risk, and in some ways the absolute benefits to the child, is quite low. It’s kind of a low stakes decision in that sense.”
The option to roll out vaccines for 12-15 year olds was undertaken as part of the Government's winter Covid plan, which also encourages over 50s to get a third booster jab.
Most of Wales' health boards begin their vaccine booster programmes from today, with jabs also being offered to frontline healthcare workers and those with more vulnerable health conditions.