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Daily Record
Politics
Peter Davidson

Covid in Scotland: Children aged 12 to 15 to be able to get vaccine from today

Children aged 12 to 15 in Scotland will be able to get a coronavirus vaccine from today.

Residents in care homes across the country will also be offered a third jab as part of the booster vaccination programme which gets underway on Monday, September 20.

From tomorrow, Tuesday, frontline health and social care workers are able to book an appointment for a booster vaccine through the NHS Inform website.

Older care home residents can also be given their flu jab alongside the booster covid vaccine.

Drop-in clinics will now accept kids aged between 12 to 15 for the covid jab if they wish to get a first dose before they receive their letter inviting them for a scheduled appointment.

According to the Scottish Government, everyone in the age group will be invited for vaccination at a community based clinic or a school delivery session from September 27.

The UK’s four chief medical officers gave the green light to vaccinating younger teenagers in an attempt to prevent more disruption to education.

Teenagers across Scotland will be offered a single dose of the Pfizer vaccine but it will not be compulsory for schoolchildren to take the jab.

The CMOs were asked to assess the benefit of vaccinating 12-to-15-year-olds, including the impact the pandemic has had on education, the scientific advisers failed to make a firm recommendation.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation said earlier this month that the margin of benefit from vaccinating healthy children was too small to say they should receive a jab.

Heath Secretary Humza Yousaf said: "I am pleased to see the booster programme getting underway for residents in care homes for older people, offering longer lasting protection against severe COVID-19 illness.

"The booster programme will run alongside our biggest ever flu vaccine programme as both of these programmes are important for individual and for public health and wherever possible, those eligible will be offered COVID-19 booster and flu vaccines together.

"We are also starting vaccination of 12-15 year olds after Scottish Ministers accepted advice from the four UK Chief Medical Officers. This group can now head to drop-in clinics for their jabs or wait for a letter offering them a scheduled appointment."

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