Children between five to eleven years old at risk from Covid-19, or children living with an immunosuppressed person, will now be eligible to get a Covid-19 vaccination from this Saturday.
Dedicated clinics, especially designed to cater for children - will operate across West Lothian from 8.30am to 4.30pm seven days a week.
Vaccinations are by appointment only, and eligible children will receive their appointment notice in the post with the location of the vaccination clinic to stop anti-vaxx protesters targeting sites.
Jane McNulty, Director of Nursing for Primary and Community Care, NHS Lothian, said: “We are delighted to offer these clinics to the youngest people in our community.
“These clinics will be operated by specially trained paediatric vaccinators in a clinical environment, which will allow children, parents and guardians to discuss the vaccination process in a calm environment.”
The vaccination will first be offered to children with a higher covid-19 risk factor and children living in the household of an immunosuppressed person.
The wider child population will then be offered the vaccine later in the year. Children eligible for the vaccination will receive a letter from NHS Lothian in the coming days with details about how to book an appointment through the National Vaccination Helpline.
Parents and guardians do not need to actively contact NHS Lothian to arrange an appointment.
The clinics opened their doors, with the publication and advice from the UK’s four Chief Medical Officers, to offer two doses of the Pzifer childhood Covid-19 vaccine - a variant of the Covid-19 vaccine developed for children.
All children will receive two separate doses eight weeks apart.
A third primary dose is also being offered to children aged 5-11 years with a severely weakened immune system.
The third primary dose will be offered from 8 weeks after the second dose.
Ms McNulty added: “We recognise that parents and guardians may have questions regarding the covid-19 vaccination and we encourage them to visit the pages on NHS Inform where there is a range of information available.
“Alongside this, our paediatric vaccinators are on hand to answer any questions people may have when they attend their child’s vaccination appointment.
“Vaccination remains critically important in the continued fight against Covid-19 and we welcome the further expansion of the vaccination programme across Lothian.”
Established vaccination clinics for over 12s will continue to operate separately from these clinics, with NHS Lothian still encouraging all over 12s to get any outstanding vaccinations.
Over 18s can continue to receive their 1st, 2nd and booster vaccinations at all drop-in clinics.
Those aged 12-17 can also still attend for their second dose if it has been at least 12 weeks since their first dose and they have not tested positive for Covid-19 in the past 12 weeks.
More information on the 5-11 vaccination programme is available on NHS Inform:https://www.nhsinform.scot/covid-19-vaccine/the-vaccines/vaccinating-children-aged-5-to-11-years/
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