More than half of the Isle of Wight’s 12 to 15-year-olds are yet to have a Covid vaccine as health bosses urge them to do so.
A team of vaccinators visited secondary schools on the Island to give first doses to pupils after the age limit for a Covid vaccine was lowered.
Concerns over low take-up
However, only 2,751 12 to 15-year-olds, 47 per cent of the cohort, received one — something the senior responsible officer and programme director for the Island’s vaccination programme, Jane Ansell, said she was really concerned about.
Speaking at the Isle of Wight Council’s Local Outbreak Engagement Board meeting last Friday, Ms Ansell said the second vaccine would be offered to pupils from mid-January.
Working with schools
Ms Ansell said the Hampshire, Southampton and Isle of Wight Clinical Commissioning Group was working closely with the education sector to see what could be done, including offering non vaccinated pupils first jabs while giving others their second to make the best use of vaccinators.
Wendy Perera, the council’s assistant chief executive, said the relatively high number of Covid cases in schools may have limited the number of pupils eligible for a vaccine.
If you have had Covid, you have to wait 12 weeks before you can have a vaccine, said Ms Perera.
Bryant: Increasing rates in younger school-age population
Simon Bryant, the Island’s director of public health, said increasing rates were being seen across the board, but mainly in the younger school-age population.
He said in those five to nine years old, the rates are highest as children interact and are unvaccinated.
See the age breakdowns in News OnTheWight’s weekly roundup of figures.
Five to 11-year-olds
The UK’s medicine regulator is currently deciding whether to vaccinate five to 11-year-olds, but plans are being slowly developed should it be approved.
A pop-up vaccination clinic was announced last week at the Isle of Wight College by the CCG for 16 to 17-year-olds who are yet to have their vaccine, as NHS England statistics show 65 per cent of them (1,812 teens) have had one dose.
Article edit
9.25am 8th Dec 2021 – Period teenagers need to wait before having jab after Covid corrected from 4 weeks to 12 (the advice recently changed)
This article is from the BBC’s LDRS (Local Democracy Reporter Service) scheme, which News OnTheWight is taking part in. Some alterations and additions may have been made by OnTheWight. Ed
