Just one in 10 children in Wales between the ages of five and 11 years old has received a coronavirus vaccine since it first started being offered two months ago. According to statistics from Public Health Wales, 11.1% of children in this age group have had their first dose, while 0.8% have had both their first and second.
The jab was first offered to five to 11-year-olds in Wales on March 17 to increase their immunity against severe Covid in advance of a potential future wave and to minimise disruption to their education. Parents and guardians need to consent to the children having the vaccine.
For most children and young people Covid is a mild illness and rarely leads to complications. However, small numbers of children can get seriously unwell and need a spell in hospital, while some are also known to suffer from coronavirus symptoms many weeks after they're initially infected. You can get more health news and other story updates by subscribing to our newsletters here.
