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People aged 16 or over are now eligible for their COVID booster jabs |
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A booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is now available for everyone in Sandwell aged 16 and over – and for some children aged 12 to 15 who are considered at high risk of getting seriously ill from the virus – who have had two doses of the vaccine at least three months ago.
And all children aged 12 to 15 (including children who turn 12 on the date of vaccination) can get their first dose and second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Local NHS immunisation teams are working closely with secondary and special schools in Sandwell to identify all pupils who are eligible for their second jab.
Parent/guardians will get a letter or email with information about when the vaccine will be offered to their 12 to 15-year-olds, and they will be asked to complete and return consent forms as soon as possible.
Anyone eligible is encouraged to come forward as soon as possible, with appointments available to book online or by calling 119.
Most children aged 12 to 15 can:
• Get their vaccine at school.
• Book their COVID-19 vaccination appointments online for an appointment at a vaccination centre or pharmacy.
• Find a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site to get vaccinated without needing an appointment. Walk-in appointments are also available at a number of vaccination sites across the area including Tipton Sports Academy in Sandwell and the Cardiac Rehab Gym at City Hospital. For information about Sandwell’s pop-up clinics, please visit www.healthysandwell.co.uk/clinics/
If a child misses their COVID-19 vaccination, for any reason, they will be offered it again at a later date.
Booking a second jab
16 and 17-year-olds are eligible for a second dose, 12 weeks after their first jab.
People aged 18 or over should have their second dose from eight weeks after their first vaccination.
• If they book online, they can manage their COVID-19 vaccination appointments, view their appointments and rebook if they need to.
• If they had their first dose at a walk-in vaccination site, they can book their second COVID-19 vaccination appointment online. They’ll need to wait 24 hours after their first dose before they can book. For information about Sandwell’s pop-up clinics, please visit www.healthysandwell.co.uk/clinics/
• If they had their first dose through their GP surgery, they’ll be contacted when it’s time to book their second dose.
The council’s Elective Home Education Team will write to the families of home-schooled children to make them aware that they can book second vaccine jabs at drop-in clinics in the borough.
The COVID-19 vaccines currently approved for use in the UK are: • Moderna vaccine • Oxford/AstraZeneca vaccine • Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
When people book, they’ll only be offered appointments for vaccines that are suitable for them – they cannot usually choose which vaccine they have.
They should have the same vaccine for both doses, unless they have serious side effects (such as a serious allergic reaction) after their first dose.
Young people aged 16 and 17 who tested positive for the virus recently should wait 12 weeks (84 days) to get a vaccine dose. This starts from the date they had symptoms, or the date of the positive test if they did not have any symptoms.
Dr Lisa McNally, Sandwell’s director of public health, said: “Getting their jabs will give Sandwell’s children long-lasting protection, and protect the wider community too. I would encourage everyone aged 12 and over to get the doses they need so we can reduce the spread of the virus in the borough, and prevent people becoming seriously ill.”
Councillor Suzanne Hartwell, cabinet member for adults, social care and health, said: “It’s great news that those aged 16 and over – as well as some children aged 12 to 15 – can now get their booster jabs, and shows how much we have achieved together.
“We can all play our part in tackling the challenges presented by COVID-19, and key to this is ensuring that everyone who is eligible gets their jabs.”
For more information about COVID-19 vaccinations in the borough, visit www.healthysandwell.co.uk/covid-19/vaccination/
For more information about vaccinations for 12-15-year-olds, please visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-vaccine-for-children-aged-12-to-15/ |