Plans under way for Covid-19 jabs to be offered to all 12 to 15-year-olds

Preparations are under way to ensure the NHSis ready to offer Covid-19 vaccines to all 12 to 15-year-olds in England from early September.

A decision has yet to be taken regarding giving jabs to this age group and the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has yet to advise on broadening the rollout.

But the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said that if the JCVI recommends that 12 to 15-year-olds should be offered the vaccine “we need to be ready to hit the ground running”.

The DHSC said the coronavirus vaccination programme has been so successful because plans were put in place before the medicines regulator approved the vaccine and before the JCVI gave final advice as to who should get their jab and when.

“Our forward planning for booster vaccines and the possible rollout of the vaccine to 12 to 15-year-olds are part of this process.

17-year-old Danielle McIlroy, from Bangor, is given the last vaccination of the day during the The Big Jab Weekend at the vaccine clinic at the SSE Arena, Belfast.
Niall Carson

“The MHRA has already said that the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine are safe and effective for 12 to 17-year-olds,” the DHSC said, adding: “No decisions have been taken on the universal vaccination of 12 to 15-year-olds and ministers have not received further advice from the JCVI.

“But if the JCVI recommends that 12-15s should be offered the vaccine, we need to be ready to hit the ground running and start those vaccinations as soon as possible.

“That is what parents across the country would rightly expect us to do, to keep their children safe.

“That is why the Government has asked the NHS to undertake the necessary preparations to ensure they are ready to offer universal vaccination to 12 to 15-year-olds from early September.”

The NHS is preparing to deliver a school-based programme that will be supplemented with other delivery models where necessary to ensure full coverage across the country, the DHSC said.

A Pfizer/BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine being prepared.
Nick Potts

NHS England will be taking a number of steps including contracting providers to recruit and train staff to provide school-aged immunisation services, to ensure teams are ready and able to start offering vaccination in schools from September if needed.

They will be hosting webinars with immunisation providers, clinical commissioning groups and local authorities to update them on contingency planning arrangements, and publishing training materials for NHS vaccinators and local delivery partners.

If a decision is taken to vaccinate this cohort, the DHSC said communications will be issued to schools asking them to support the vaccination effort if needed, for example by making space available in the schools or enabling children to take time out of lessons to travel to vaccination sites.

The DHSC said that in the event that the JCVI recommends Covid-19 vaccines should be offered to those aged 12-15, parental or carer consent will be sought.

Kevin Mckeon, 14, receives his first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine from vaccinator Geraldine Flynn at the Citywest vaccination centre in Dublin.
Damien Storan

“This is no different from any other school vaccination programme,” the department said.

The Government said it is also continuing to prepare for a booster programme to ensure those most vulnerable to Covid-19 have their protection against the virus extended ahead of winter and strengthened against new variants.

A first Covid-19 vaccine dose is currently being offered to all 16 and 17-year-olds and 12 to 15-year-olds with specific underlying health conditions and those who are household contacts of someone who is immunosuppressed.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: “Throughout the pandemic the Government has planned ahead so we can respond to changing circumstances and move quickly to offer the life-saving vaccine to the people who need it most.

“That is why, while I await updated advice from JCVI on the 12-15 cohort, I have asked the NHS to make preparations – should they be needed – to roll out the vaccine to this group.”

This week, deputy chief executive of NHS Providers Saffron Cordery said trusts are ready to move “at pace” to roll out vaccinations for 12 to 15-year-olds if and when necessary.