East Riding booster jabs to be given and roll-out to 12 to 15 year-olds
Young people in the East Riding will receive a vaccine invitation soon
Young people in East Riding aged 12 to 15 will receive a coronavirus vaccine invitation before the October half term as their rollout and booster jabs are set to launch.
East Riding Council Public Health Director Andy Kingdom said officials were aiming to launch both coronavirus vaccine rollouts this week.
Parents and carers are set to receive letters from the local School Age Immunisation Service (SAIS) detailing arrangements for jabs and asking their consent for their children to get them.
Residents including care home residents, over 50s and front line health and social care workers will also be invited for a third jab once protocols are published, set for this week.
The rollouts come after the chief medical officers of England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland all recommended extending the vaccine offer to 12 to 15 year olds.
It also follows the go ahead for the autumn booster programme for people in priority groups one to nine after recommendations from the Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisation (JCVI).
Mr Kingdom said he would recommend that young people eligible for their first jabs should start talking to parents and carers about getting it.
Pfizer vaccines are set to be given in schools, with special arrangements in place for young people not in mainstream education.
Parents and carers will not be required to book vaccines though the National Booking System used for the existing rollout.
Jabs are also due to be offered to young people turning 12 after the October half term or if they are unable to get one before then.
Additional supplies of the vaccine will also be kept on hand for those and their families who change their minds about getting it.
Mr Kingdom said the rollout would protect eligible young people and those around them but added coronavirus typically had milder effects for that age group.
Meanwhile, eligible residents will also be invited for their third coronavirus jabs if it is more than six months since they received their first course.
Officials are looking at offering flu jabs alongside coronavirus ones in the same appointment.
Residents aged 16 to 49 with underlying health conditions risking worse coronavirus outcomes, adults living with immunosuppressed people and adult carers will be invited to book jabs in priority order.
Mr Kingdom said:
“We are following the vaccination guidance of the JCVI for all of our residents whether aged 12 to 15 or aged 80 plus.
“Our vaccination rates have so far been excellent with the vast majority of people taking up the Covid vaccine when offered it, our uptake rates are about the third highest in the country.
“I expect the same for both the booster and 12 to 15 year olds campaigns, uptake rates among their parents’ and carers’ age groups are encouraging.
“Vaccines protect you and the people important to you, the more people we vaccinate the more are protected.
“Unfortunately the vaccine is not 100 per cent effective so we need as many people as possible to get vaccinated to protect those for whom the vaccine is not as effective in reducing their risk of becoming ill.
“Coronavirus has not gone away and will not for some time yet.
“I would urge anyone eligible and not yet vaccinated to come forward and get their free vaccine, it’s the right thing to do.”