Children and young people aged 12-15 from immunosuppressed households now eligible for vaccine

Children and young people aged 12-15 who are household contacts of adults or children who are immunosuppressed are now eligible for the COVID vaccine in the Western Isles. This is to provide indirect protection for the member of their household that is at higher risk.   

Parents and carers are invited to contact NHS Western Isles for a COVID vaccination appointment.   

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.   

Liam Macfarlane (13) from Stornoway was one of the first young people in the Western Isles from an immunosuppressed household to receive the COVID vaccine.  

Liam was vaccinated on Tuesday (August 10) by Western Isles vaccinator, Heather Mackenzie. The Nintendo (pictured) that Liam enjoyed a shot of at his appointment belongs to the Outpatients Department at Western Isles Hospital, and was generously donated by Nintendo for patients to use. 

Liam’s Mum, Fiona Macfarlane, commented: “As a parent I would say it was a relaxed environment and with games consoles and lovely staff, a positive experience of vaccination.” 

To make an appointment, please call 0808 196 8383 or email wi.covidvax@nhs.scot and leave your contact details.    

In addition to the above group, the NHS Western Isles Vaccination Team is also currently contacting all individuals aged 16 and 17, and those in the 12-15 ‘at risk’ group (affected by severe neuro-disabilities, Down’s syndrome, underlying conditions resulting in immunosuppression, and those who have a diagnosis of learning/intellectual disability) to invite them for an appointment.   

If you are in any of the above eligible groups and have not been contacted yet, you are now invited to contact us directly to book an appointment. A variety of clinics are being set up across the Western Isles for these groups specifically.   

Young people in these categories are being offered the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine, in line with the latest advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).

Pictured below is Liam with vaccinator, Heather Mackenzie.