Vaccination clinics

Vaccine FAQs

Our Chief Nursing Officer, Nathan Askew, answers some of the most common questions that come up when discussing Covid-19 vaccinations in children.

Important information on vaccinations

The NHS is now recommending that children aged 5 to 11 who are considered at higher risk of serious complications of COVID-19 – or those who are household contacts of an immunosuppressed person – are offered two paediatric doses of the vaccine eight weeks apart. All other 5 to11 year olds are advised to have their 1st and 2nd doses 12 weeks apart.

Children at serious risk from the complications of COVID-19 infection include those with:

Severe neuro disabilities
Immunosuppression* – those whose immune systems don’t work as well and those who live with someone who is immunosuppressed
Profound and multiple or severe learning disabilities
Being on the learning disability register
Those with Down’s syndrome
Those with long-term serious conditions affecting their body.
Children with very severely weakened immune systems, may need an extra (third) dose from 8 weeks after their second dose

The vaccine is also recommended for those children living with people who have a weakened immune system (who are immunosuppressed). This is to reduce the risk of them passing on the infection to their family members.

People over 12 who are immunosuppressed will already have been invited for their vaccinations, Children 5 to 11 can have the vaccine to help protect them further.

Everyone over 12 who has had a COVID-19 vaccination in England can view their record using the NHS COVID Pass web pages or, for those over 13, through the NHS App.