THE NHS announced on Monday, April 4, that children aged 5-11 are eligible for a Covid-19 vaccination.
The UK’s medicines and healthcare products regulatory agency has now approved the paediatric dose of the vaccine for use.
The Paediatric dose is one third of the dose of vaccine that is given to older children and adults.
The joint committee for vaccination and immunisation has advised that children with no underlying health conditions are offered the vaccine.
Parents and guardians can book a visit to the vaccination centre in Broad Street Mall online at www.nhs.uk or by calling 119.
Children in the same age range who are more at risk have already been offered two paediatric doses eight weeks apart, and should have been contacted by their GP or hospital specialist.
Children who have had Covid-19 will have to wait 12 weeks before getting vaccinated.
The NHS advises that two doses of the vaccine provide protection against serious complications of infection, including from any future waves due to new variants.
It also advises that vaccines can cause side effects, but most of these are mild and short-term.
Side effects include headache, tenderness at the place of injection, tiredness, and mild flu-like symptoms.
Some children may still get Covid-19 despite having a vaccination, but this should be less severe.
For more information about how the vaccine affects children, visit www.gov.uk.
