Vaccinating children aged between 12 and 15 against coronavirus will begin in schools next week.
Drop-in clinics for the jabs opened on Monday but health board officials believe the school-based programme will help minimise disruption to pupils’ education when it begins on September 30.
The aim is for the vaccines to be administered over a two week period and health chiefs are hoping there will be a similar uptake to that seen among 16 and 17-year-olds, more than three-quarters of whom have already had their first jab.
Immunisation co-ordinator Dr Nigel Calvert said: “We’ll be looking to promote information to families in order to ensure informed consent and are making arrangements to send out invitations for children to take up vaccination opportunities in schools over that two week period.
“Covid vaccines are helping to prevent some of the worst effects of Covid and to bring down cases by helping to reduce transmission.
“Younger people generally do not suffer the effects of Covid to the worst possible degree but we do know that anyone can be affected and also the issues posed by long Covid. We also know that vaccinating helps cut down the spread of the virus, benefiting the wider community and its services.
“We’d encourage everyone to give consideration to being vaccinated against Covid-19 which still currently represents a very significant threat to public health and the functioning of our communities.
Information on the vaccination programme for all ages is available at www.nhsdg.co.uk/vaccines/
