Roll out of vaccine to vulnerable children aged 5-11 a 'postcode lottery'
Half a million children are high risk or live with someone who is immunosuppressed
Vulnerable child in West Yorkshire, who are aged 5 to 11, are set to get their covid 19 vaccine this week.
But some parents in the region are describing the rollout as a 'postcode lottery'.
Half a million children are high risk or live with someone who is immunosuppressed.
Justine Cornforth lives near Wakefield, her son is clinically vulnerable and isn't able to go to school and see his friends.
She said:
"He has to have 2 doses, he can't go back to school until after Easter, and every week it means its getting nearer the summer holidays, and I want him to go back and see his friends, and experience opportunities, the sooner the better, its really critical now."
She says she has no idea when her son will get the vaccine, and hasn't yet received an invite:
"Our lives have been affected now for nearly 2 years, as have all families, but even more so when you can't even go in a shop, when you can't have friends over, the virus could kill my child and every bit of protection he has, is a step closer to going back to some sort of normality.
"I think its appalling, it feels like a postcode lottery, I'd just like to know when my child can get vaccinated."
Wakefield CCG said:
"The NHS is starting to offer vaccinations for children aged 5-11 who are at most risk from COVID-19 from today (Monday 31 January). This includes children who are immunosuppressed or who have a learning disability and children who live with someone who is immunosuppressed.
"GPs and consultants have been identifying eligible children and will be contacting parents and guardians to offer them an appointment for their child as soon as possible."
NHS England said:
"Parents and guardians should wait for the NHS to contact them for when it is their child’s turn to get the life-saving 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."