First COVID Drop-in clinics for 12-15 year old age group

NHS Western Isles will hold its first COVID vaccination drop-in clinics this week, for children and young people aged 12-15 years.  

The decision comes after the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) assessed that, while the health benefits from vaccination are marginally greater than the potential known harms, it advised the government that the Chief Medical Officers from the UK’s four nations may wish to seek further views on the wider societal impacts of vaccination, including educational benefits which are outside the remit of the JCVI. All four Chief Medical Officers agreed that the wider public health impacts meant a decision in favour of vaccination.  

For most children and young people COVID-19 is usually a milder illness that rarely leads to complications. For a very few, the symptoms may last for longer than the usual two to three weeks. Getting the vaccine will help to protect children and young people against more serious illness from COVID-19.  

The vaccine currently licensed for children and young people is the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. This is what will be offered to 12-15 year olds at vaccination clinics across the Western Isles. Please ensure that, if you tested positive for COVID-19 recently, you wait at least 28 days after your positive test before you attend for a COVID vaccination appointment.  

NHS Western Isles Director of Public Health, Dr Maggie Watts, said: “The roll out of the COVID-19 vaccine to all children and young people aged 12-15 marks a significant milestone in the vaccination programme. Clinical trials of the COVID-19 vaccines have demonstrated they are safe and effective in this age group and vaccination offers the best chance of protecting young people from COVID-19 and preventing further disruption to education. Countries around the world have already been safely vaccinating children and young people in this age group. 

“Getting the COVID-19 vaccine is a decision to be made jointly between parents or carers and their children, but it’s really important to use reliable and trusted sources such as NHS Inform when making a decision and assessing the potential benefits, risks and side effects.  Individual choice should be respected for the decisions young people and their parents or carers make in accepting, or not accepting the vaccine offer.  

“Where possible, parents or carers are encouraged to attend appointments with their children and both can ask questions about any queries they have before the vaccination is given.  

“I would like to thank all of the vaccinators and vaccine site staff who have worked so hard to get us to this stage of the COVID-19 vaccine programme."

The information leaflet for this age group is available at: The Covid Vaccine: Important information for 16-17-year-olds (healthscotland.com)

FIRST DROP-IN CLINICS AVAILABLE TO THOSE AGED 12-15: 

Friday 24^th September 

• Western Isles Hospital: 2pm – 7.30pm 
• Uist and Barra Hospital: 4.30pm – 7.30pm 

Saturday 25^th September 

• Western Isles Hospital: 10.30am – 5.30pm 
• Uist and Barra Hospital: 8.30am – 3pm 
• St Brendan’s Hospital: 9am – 4.30pm 

Sunday 26^th September 

• Western Isles Hospital: 10.30am – 5.30pm 

Tuesday 28^th September 

• Harris Hub: 3.30pm – 8pm