GRAB A JAB FOR HALF TERM

Families with children aged five and above are being encouraged to come forward for their Covid-19 vaccine jabs during half term.

With half-term school holidays happening in Cheshire and Merseyside in both the weeks of May 30 and June 6, people are asked to check where their vaccine status is up to and come forward if they are due a jab.

You can find a walk-in site close to you at www.nhs.uk/grab-a-jab, book appointments on the National Booking System or call 119. Details of local centres can be found at the bottom of the page.

Although, for most children Covid-19 is a mild illness which may require a few days off school, for very few children, the symptoms may be more serious or last longer. The current Omicron variant appears to be particularly mild in children. However, it is not known if future variants will be as mild and being vaccinated is the best way to stay protected and help to stop the spread of Covid to others.

Having the vaccine will reduce the chance of your child suffering from Covid and is available as two doses for all children over the age of five as well as a further booster from some more vulnerable children and young people.

Vaccination Programme Director for Cheshire and Merseyside, Jayne Wood, says the half-term break is the ideal time for young people (and their families) to come and get the vaccination they’re due.

She said: “Getting the vaccine is free and takes just a few minutes. Side-effects effects are extremely rare and only usually amount to a sore arm at most. It’s still really important that young people come and get both jabs and, where eligible, the booster.

“During half-term, students who have missed the opportunity to get jabbed at school, or for any other reason, can do so at one of our clinics. Getting vaccinated helps keep young people in school and prevents further disruption to their social and family life. It also helps reduce transmission of the virus to the wider community.” 

Children and young people who may have missed previous appointments due to having had Covid are also asked to come forward if they have waited the right amount of time.

Those who have tested positive for Covid-19 need to wait before getting any dose of the vaccine. Those aged five to 17 need to wait 12 weeks (84 days), unless they are at high risk of illness, in which case the wait is just 4 weeks. People aged over 18 need to wait just 4 weeks (28 days) from a positive test. 

More information about vaccinations in Cheshire and Merseyside