JAB FOCUS SHIFTS TO CHILDREN
Race against time as pupil vaccines and boosters start next week
CHILDREN as young as 12 will begin receiving coronavirus vaccines from Monday, Nicola Sturgeon has confirmed.
The First Minister yesterday announced that school children aged between 12 and 15 will be offered a single dose of the Pfizer jab – and drop-in clinics start next week.
But the Scottish Government is facing pressure to speed up the rollout, with political opponents demanding vaccines are delivered in schools and that the programme is completed by the October holiday.
Although drop-in clinics will welcome children from Monday, appointment letters will not be sent out until September 27.
A programme will then be introduced in schools to offer those who have not been vaccinated the chance to receive a jab. But no date has yet been given for this.
Scottish Conservative leader Douglas Ross said a further ramping up of the vaccination drive had the ‘potential to be game-changing’ in fighting Covid-19 this winter.
Insisting it must start immediately, he said:
‘Implement the advice as quickly as possible’
‘There should be mobile vaccination units at every school to encourage uptake, particularly in areas where vaccination rates are low.’
From Monday, booster jabs will be available for health workers, care home residents and those in receipt of regular flu jabs.
Everyone over 70 or considered high risk will be contacted by their GP to receive a third jab and the booster will eventually be offered to all over-50s.
Those with underlying conditions, adult carers, unpaid and young carers and those who live with someone who is immunosuppressed will be able to book a booster vaccine online from October.
Miss Sturgeon said the Government was accepting the recommendation of the UK’s chief medical officers (CMOs) to offer 12 to 15year-olds a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine.
On Monday, it was announced that the CMOs had given the go-ahead after concluding that, as well as health benefits, jabs would help to prevent disruption of schooling this winter and benefit those living in poorer areas.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has previously decided against recommending vaccines for all youngsters.
Miss Sturgeon said: ‘I can confirm to parliament today that the Scottish Government welcomes and accepts this recommendation. We believe that vaccination of 12 to 15-year-olds is important and we will therefore move to implement the advice as quickly as possible.’
Stressing the importance of informed consent, she said: ‘I know that many young people and their parents will have questions.
‘Material will be made available online later this week.’ Children will be able to overrule their parents on whether they receive the jab if they are deemed to be competent and understand the health implications.
Miss Sturgeon has previously spoken of her desire to offer vaccines to younger Scots, saying it is a ‘vital part of our overall protection against the virus’.
Scottish Labour leader Anas Sarwar said the Government must ‘bring vaccinations to the people’ as he called for an immediate rollout of jabs in schools.
Mr Sarwar said: ‘The Scottish Government must ensure that all 12 to 15-year-olds who want a vaccine are vaccinated by the beginning of the October school holidays. For too long, the Scottish Government has simply failed to have its eye on the ball when it comes to the pandemic.’
He called for teachers and other school staff to be included in the booster programme and for Test and Protect to get ‘back on track’.
The EIS teaching union welcomed the vaccine decision in the wake of ‘significant outbreaks’ in schools.
Since returning to classrooms in mid-August, thousands of pupils have tested positive for the virus or been forced to self-isolate after coming into contact with a case.
The JCVI advised that boosters would be needed for older people amid concerns about waning immunity.
But Tory leader Mr Ross raised concerns over how the jabs would be delivered.
He said: ‘We have seen almost every year, like clockwork, the SNP’s flu jag programme descends into chaos. They cannot let the country down by allowing Covid booster jags to go the same way.
‘Mass vaccination centres for Covid booster jags should also be on the table, considering how effective those venues were for first and second jags.’