Children and young people aged 12-17 from key groups to be contacted for COVID-19 vaccine

Young people with certain conditions in the Western Isles are to be offered the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, in line with the latest advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), before the majority of schools return on the 16th of August. 

The vaccine will be offered to around 30 children and young people in the Western Isles affected by severe neuro-disabilities, Down’s syndrome, underlying conditions resulting in immunosuppression, and those who have a diagnosis of Learning/Intellectual disability. 

Also to be invited later this month are children and young people aged 12-17 who are household contacts of adults or children who are immunosuppressed. This is to provide indirect protection for that member of their household. A household contact is defined as someone living in the same house, or anyone the adult or child comes in to contact with face-to-face on most days of the week – such as a carer. 

NHS Western Isles is aiming to vaccinate these children and young people during August 2021 alongside those younger household contacts of people with immunosuppression.  

NHS Western Isles staff will be in contact with those eligible directly – there is no need to contact us to book an appointment.