Ireland’s Covid vaccine has been hailed as our best weapon against the virus, which continues to rage amid a fourth wave.
An update from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee will see doses offered to children aged 5 to 11 in the coming months.
The recommendation was given to the Government today which means around 480,000 children will be in line for the jab.
Primary school children with underlying conditions, or who are living with a younger person, as well as those who are either living with immunocompromised adults or those who have serious medical needs, will be given priority in the new leg of the rollout.
A vaccine timeline for youngsters in this cohort will be published in the coming weeks, however, the HSE has estimated the first delivery of 'lighter' jabs will arrive next week.
The doses are a third of the amount administered to people over the age of 12 across the globe, after a recommendation from the European Medicines Agency.
While some parents may be apprehensive in allowing their child to get the vaccine, the HSE has issued guidance for consideration.
It said: ”Vaccines should protect your child from getting seriously ill from Covid-19 if they have certain health conditions.
“It may also protect healthy children from:
- mild to severe Covid-19 illness
- multisystem inflammatory syndrome due to Covid-19
- the risk of developing ‘long Covid' symptoms, such as tiredness and fatigue
- spreading Covid-19 to others
- Children who are vaccinated will be less likely to miss school and other activities because of being ill with COVID-19.”
Booster
Meanwhile, more than one million booster doses have been given to those currently eligible.
The following groups of people are currently being offered an additional dose:
- people aged 60 or older
- those living in a nursing home or a long-term healthcare facility
- healthcare workers
- people aged 16 to 59 with an underlying condition
- Boosters for 50 to 59-year-olds will start on Thursday, 9 December.
The next groups to be offered the booster doses very soon are people aged:
- 16 years and older who are pregnant
- 40 to 49
- 16 to 39 - in stages with older age groups being called first
According to the latest advice from the HSE, you need to wait at least 5 months after your second vaccine dose before you can get a booster.
If you had the single-dose Janssen vaccine, you need to wait at least 3 months. You will get your appointment after this time.
The public is reminded that you do not need to register for a booster dose, so if you are:
- aged 70 or older, you'll be invited for your vaccine by your GP. Some GPs will refer patients to a vaccination centre
- under 70, you will get a text message from the HSE with a vaccination centre appointment when your booster is due
