NHS Offers Walk-in Covid-19 Vaccinations For 12-15 Year Olds

Parents  will be able to bring their 12-15-year-old children to walk-in vaccination clinics in central Lancashire this weekend, the NHS has announced.

The move is an expansion of the existing COVID-19 vaccination programme, providing parents with an extra, convenient option, as the biggest and fastest vaccination programme in health history continues to protect people against the virus.

Three Lancashire vaccine sites are among the first in the country to be able to offer walk-in sessions to 12 to 15-year-olds:

• St Johns Vaccination Centre, Preston
  Saturday 1pm-7pm and Sunday 8:30am-7pm
• Jubilee House, Lancashire Business Park, Leyland
  Saturday from 1pm-7pm
• Chorley Vaccination Centre, Market Street Chorley
  Saturday 2-5pm and Sunday 10-4pm

Nationally, a number of sites will start offering walk-ins for this age group from tomorrow (Saturday, 30 October), with more sites becoming available in the coming weeks.

Senior Responsible Officer for Lancashire and South Cumbria Vaccination Programme Jane Scattergood, said:

“This new offer makes it possible for those children aged 12 to 15 who have not yet had the opportunity to be vaccinated at school – including those who are home educated – to visit a walk-in clinic as well as book an appointment online or via 119.

Exactly the same principles for consent, and exactly the same safeguards will be in place as for in-school vaccinations. The extra flexibility and capacity we are providing will enable faster roll-out to this group at a time when the rate of COVID-19 infection in secondary aged children continues to be high.”

Since Saturday 23 October, 12-15 year olds have also been able to book a vaccination outside of school if they prefer, using the National Booking Service. This has made it even easier for them to get protection by opening up hundreds of convenient, established sites across the country such as vaccination centres and designated GP practices and community pharmacies.

To make an appointment, they need simply to visit www.nhs.uk/covid-vaccination or call 119.

For more information on the Lancashire and South Cumbria Vaccination Programme visit healthierls.co.uk/getmyjab