Online Covid-19 vaccination bookings are now open for 12-15 year olds

Young people aged 12-15 in Blackburn with Darwen can now get their Covid-19 vaccine at vaccination sites in the borough with an appointment booked on the NHS National Booking Service.

Parents can now book the vaccine for their child at various locations, and just one dose is needed for 12-15 year olds. Blackburn Vaccination Centre at Blackburn Cathedral is offering the service along with other possible locations on the borough.

You can find your nearest vaccination service and book at https://www.nhs.uk/book-a-coronavirus-vaccination

Many 12-15 year olds have already received their dose at school – so if your child has had one at school, they do not need another.

If your child has already been invited through their school, you do not need to book the vaccine elsewhere unless you wish to get their child vaccinated outside of school.

The move is an expansion of the existing programme, providing parents with an extra option.

Parents and guardians are advised to attend vaccination sites with their children if they want them to get vaccinated outside of school hours and consent will be sought on the day. Parents and young people are being asked to read the patient information in advance of arriving for their appointment. This can also be accessed online.

Letters will be sent to parents and guardians of children in this age group over the coming weeks inviting them to book the vaccine online or by calling 119 as the NHS COVID-19 vaccination programme continues.

Dominic Harrison, Blackburn with Darwen’s Director of Public Health, said:

This further rollout of the vaccine for this age group is fantastic news. Increasing the availability of the Covid vaccine to 12 to 15 year olds is something I have been lobbying the government for since the summer when the Pfizer vaccine was approved for this age group.

This will have an extra benefit for Blackburn with Darwen as we have the eighth youngest population aged under 16 in the UK with 23% of our residents. This age group getting vaccinated will not only help to protect our young people over the autumn and winter but will help to prevent family and community transmission of the virus as well.

I want to reassure parents and carers that the roll-out of the Pfizer vaccine to 12 to 15 year olds has been judged as safe and effective – not just in the UK but in most other European countries and North America, and it remains the most effective way to protect ourselves from this virus and keep ourselves and others safe.”