Uptake of the covid vaccination is proving stubbornly low amongst people who have a weakened immune system and are under 50 years old, especially amongst children and younger people aged 5-17 years and their household contacts.
Whilst there has been fantastic uptake of the covid autumn booster, with 299,289 people across the county having had theirs (as of 12th December), parents and guardians are being urged to make appointments to bring their 5-17 year-olds in for vaccination, particularly if they are clinically vulnerable, immunosuppressed or a household contact of anyone with immunosuppression.
“With Christmas and the New Year not far away and covid cases rising, our advice to people is to check whether they, or a loved one including 5-17 year-olds, are due to have a covid vaccination this winter. This includes autumn boosters for those aged 50 or over and/or those people in clinical risk groups, including those who are immunosuppressed,” comments Julie Humphreys, Head of Clinical Services, Lincolnshire Community Health Services NHS Trust.
Whilst nationally around 67 percent of those with a weakened immune system have already had a booster vaccination, there are still hundreds of thousands of at risk people around the country who are yet to come forwards for a covid vaccination that could provide them with vital protection.
In Lincolnshire, there has been particularly low uptake of the second vaccination amongst children and young people aged 5-17 years old, and also low uptake of the autumn booster for those children aged 5-11 who are clinically vulnerable.
All children aged 5 to 15 can get a 1st and 2nd dose of the covid vaccine –if they turned 5 prior to 1st September 2022 – as well as young people aged 5 to 17 who are clinically vulnerable or household contacts of people who are immunosuppressed.
“As with the adult population, this is about giving our children the best possible protection against covid, which is even more important now that we’re in winter. Most children can get a 2nd dose from 12 weeks after their 1st dose, or 8 weeks after if the child is considered at risk or is a household contact of someone who is immunosuppressed,” explains Julie.
In addition, if your child is clinically vulnerable and needs protection from covid they can also get a booster dose if they had their 2nd dose at least three months ago. If your child was immunosuppressed when they had their first two doses, they can get an additional 3rd primary dose of the vaccine.
“We previously vaccinated a lot of children in school and at bespoke vaccination sessions during school holidays, but we know there are a number of children and young people who’ve not had their vaccinations, particularly those aged 5-17, and it’s really important they do,” says Julie.
Parents and guardians of young people aged 5-17 can book a vaccination appointment online using the National Booking Service including for appointments at the county’s Mass Vaccination Centre at the Grandstand, Carholme Road, Lincoln, which is running bookable vaccination sessions for children, including one this Saturday 17th December, for 5-11 year-olds between 2.30pm-8pm, and another next Thursday 22nd December for 12-15 year-olds between 10am-12pm, and for 5-11 year-olds between 12pm-1.30pm.
“Our vaccination team in Boston are also running various pop-up walk-in vaccination sessions, that don’t need an appointment, at locations in the east and south of the county, including some that will cater for children. For example, next week there’s two sessions at the Ridlington Rooms, Sibsey Lane, Boston – the first on Monday 19th, between 10.30am-6.30pm, for 5-11 year-olds, and the second on Wednesday 21st, between 10.30am-6.30pm, for anyone aged 12+,” adds Julie.
You can find more about when bookable vaccination sessions are due to be held at the Weighing Rooms at Vaccination schedule – Mass Vaccination Centres – Lincolnshire ICB. For information on pop-up walk-in sessions, which don’t require an appointment, in other locations visit Walk-in vaccination sessions in Lincolnshire – Lincolnshire ICB.
Published 16/12/2022