Login

Sussex COVID-19 Vaccination Programme Board

Update: COVID-19 Vaccinations for under 18s
20 August 2021
This update aims to help provide the latest information on COVID-19 Vaccinations for children and young people under the age of 18. More information is also available here:

https://www.sussexhealthandcare.uk/keepsussexsafe/sussex-covid-19-vaccinationprogramme/how-do-i-get-my-jab/vaccinations-for-children-and-young-people-aged-12-to-17/

Who is now eligible?
If you are under the age of 18 you are eligible if you are:
- Aged 16 and 17
- Aged 12 to 15 if they have a condition that means they're at high risk from COVID-19
- Aged 12 to 15 if they live with someone who is more likely to get infections (such as someone who has HIV, has had a transplant or is having certain treatments for cancer, lupus or rheumatoid arthritis)

Which children aged 12 to 15 with health conditions are eligible?
Nationally it is set out that conditions that mean your child may be at high risk and can get
vaccinated are:
- a severe problem with the brain or nerves, such as cerebral palsy
- Down's syndrome
- severe or multiple learning disabilities (or they're on the learning disability register)
- a condition that means they're more likely to get infections (such as some genetic conditions or types of cancer)
Full details can be found in the Green Book, Chapter 14a.
Which children are eligible as household contacts?
Children and young people aged 12 years and over who are household contacts of persons (adults or children) who are immunosuppressed should be offered 2 doses of PfizerBNT162b2 vaccine on the understanding that the main benefits from vaccination are related to the potential for indirect protection of their household contact who is immunosuppressed.
The offer of vaccination may help to alleviate stress and anxiety experienced by the children and young people living in these difficult circumstances.
How will children and young people get their vaccination?
16 and 17 year olds:

- You will be able to get your vaccination at a specific walk in session that if offering it for your age group. See the latest times and dates:
https://www.sussexhealthandcare.uk/keepsussexsafe/sussex-covid-19-vaccinationprogramme/how-do-i-get-my-jab/walk-in-vaccination-sessions/
- You will be contacted by your local vaccination service to offer you a booked appointment in the coming days.
- You cannot use the national booking system or call 119 at this time.
12 to 15 year olds
- You will be contacted by your local vaccination service to offer you a booked
appointment in the coming days.
- You cannot use the national booking system or call 119 at this time.
When will appointments start?
16 and 17 year olds are being contacted now and being invited for an appointment from next
Wednesday.
We expect that walk in sessions for 16 and 17 year olds will also start at that site next week, and this will be confirmed on our website as soon as the dates are confirmed:
https://www.sussexhealthandcare.uk/keepsussexsafe/sussex-covid-19-vaccinationprogramme/how-do-i-get-my-jab/walk-in-vaccination-sessions/
For 12 to 15 year olds, GP practices have received the search codes this week to identify their eligible patients. This has now been completed and these are being provided to the vaccination services so that they can contact these patients and offer them an appointment.
The final arrangements are being made in terms of where these appointments will be in the city and families will be contacted as soon as possible.
My child / I have received an invitation but the link doesn't work?
There should be a phone number as well for the local vaccination team. Please call them directly to arrange..
If you continue to have problems, can also email us at sxccg.vaccineenquiries@nhs.net, or call our vaccine enquiry phone line: 0800 433 4545 (open 9am - 4pm, Monday to Friday) if you need help and support. See the privacy notice for information about how your data is
used.
Please note the team cannot make bookings but they can help to make contact for you with
the right team.
I haven't yet received an invitation, what do I do?
Please have patience, you will be contacted over the coming days.
If you are 16 and 17, and would like to go to a walk in session then there are vaccines available in Chichester and Eastbourne every day. It is only not possible to do the same at the Brighton Centre as it is has a different vaccine type and so cannot offer to this age
group.
The vaccination teams are working extremely hard to meet all the requirements to offer the vaccine safely to children and young people and they will be contact to arrange an appointment as soon as possible.
What if my child is about to turn 12 or about to turn 16?
At the current time, the COVID-19 vaccine is only available for children who are 12 years old who meet the criteria, and who are 16 and 17 years old.
Vaccination teams will be offering this vaccination over the coming weeks, and so children and young people will become eligible as they turn 12 (and meet the other criteria) and 16.
New searches will be carried out over the coming weeks and anyone who has a birthday and becomes eligible should be invited for vaccination by their local team.
If someone turns 16 they would also be able to attend any of the walk-in sessions for 16 and 17 year olds.

news

Related news

GDBA 2024 image