Dad backs Covid vaccine as family gets protection
AFATHER to young twins has spoken out about the importance of the Covid19 vaccination for 12 to 15-year-olds.
Abdul Hamied’s two sons Ismail and Asadh, 12, had the jab at school after discussing the vaccine as a family.
The vaccine is now available to all 12 to 15-year-olds following the government’s acceptance of the UK Chief Medical Officers’ recommendation. Like the flu and HPV vaccines, it is currently being delivered by local School Age Immunisation Services.
Those aged 12 to 15 can receive one dose of the vaccine, and all young people in this group are being encouraged to take the vaccine to get their lives moving and improve educational development has been hindered in the last year.
“My sons missed out on their leavers event in primary school last year due to the restrictions in place and this also impacted their first year of high school, which is incredibly important for them.
“It’s a new learning experience, but to do it remotely is not the same and this year they are already really enjoying the class-based learning.
“Because of the news updates about the Covid19 programme and the ongoing challenges of lockdowns, there has been an ongoing conversation with my family, and we’ve been having a lot of mature conversations around the risks of Covid and the potential benefits of vaccination and getting back to normal life.
“It’s important that we as parents understand first and foremost about the Covid-19 vaccine, so when our kids ask us about it, we know what to say. There’s a wide range of sources available providing information on the benefits and the process of the vaccine.”
More than 282,000 vaccines have been given in Rochdale since the NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme started in December last year, part of more than 10.2 doses given in the North West and more than 82 million nationally.
Heywood GP and Clinical Commissioning Group Chair, Dr Chris Duffy said: “The schools vaccination programme is another important way we can help to reduce the incidence of Covid in our bid to getting back to normal.
“It’s great to see members of our community like the Hamied twins playing their part by having the vaccination as soon as they are eligible.”