Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine for children aged 5 to 15

Coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine for children aged 5 to 15

The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines are safe and effective. 2 doses are being offered to children aged 5 to 15 to give them the best protection against COVID-19.

Why children are being offered the COVID-19 vaccine

COVID-19 is usually mild in most children, but it can make some children unwell.

1 dose of the COVID-19 vaccine gives good protection against your child getting seriously ill. But 2 doses gives stronger and longer-lasting protection against future COVID-19 variants.

Vaccinating children can reduce the risk of COVID-19 infection to your child and those around them.

When children will be offered the COVID-19 vaccine

Children can get a 1st dose of the vaccine from the day they turn 5.

Most children can get a 2nd dose from 12 weeks after they had their 1st dose.

If your child has a condition that means they’re at high risk from COVID-19 or they live with someone who has a weakened immune system, they can get a 2nd dose from 8 weeks after they had their 1st dose.

If your child is aged 12 to 15 and at high risk from COVID-19, they can also get a booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine if they had a 2nd dose at least 3 months ago.

If your child has COVID-19 or symptoms of COVID-19

If your child has a confirmed COVID-19 infection and is not at high risk from COVID-19, they need to wait 12 weeks before they can have a COVID-19 vaccine.

If they are at high risk, or they live with someone who has a weakened immune system, they should wait 4 weeks.

This starts from the date their symptoms started or the date of their positive test result, whichever was earlier.

If your child has symptoms of COVID-19 , but has not had a test, they should wait until their symptoms are better before they get a COVID-19 vaccine. You can talk to a healthcare professional at the vaccination site about this.

How children can get the COVID-19 vaccine

Parents will get information offering them the chance to make an appointment for their child to be vaccinated.

Children aged 5 to 15 can:

• book their vaccination appointments online for an appointment at a vaccination centre or pharmacy
• find a walk-in vaccination site to get vaccinated without needing an appointment
• wait to be contacted by a local NHS service such as their GP surgery to arrange their appointments

Some children may still be offered a 1st and 2nd dose of the vaccine locally through their school until the end of April 2022.

Why you should have your child vaccinated

While coronavirus (COVID-19) is typically mild or asymptomatic in most young people it can be very unpleasant for some. A course of vaccine will provide good protection against severe illness and hospitalisation.

Vaccinating 12 to 15 year olds should also help to reduce the need for young people to have time-off school and reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19 within schools.

Is it safe for young people?

The medicines regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), has confirmed the Pfizer vaccine is safe and effective for 12 to 17 year olds. This followed a rigorous review of the safety, quality and effectiveness of the vaccines in this age group.

How vaccines in schools will work

Like all school-based vaccination programmes, the vaccines will be administered by the school age immunisation service provider, working closely with the school.

Side effects and safety

The COVID-19 vaccines approved for use in the UK have met strict standards of safety, quality and effectiveness. They can cause some side effects, but not everyone gets them.

Any side effects are usually mild and should not last longer than a week, such as:

• a sore arm from the injection
• feeling tired
• a headache
• feeling achy
• feeling or being sick

More serious side effects, such as allergic reactions or blood clotting, are very rare.

Booking vaccination appointments online

You can book your child’s 1st dose online from the day they turn 5. You can usually book their 2nd dose from 24 hours after they had their 1st dose.

You’ll be offered appointment dates from 12 weeks after their 1st dose.

Book a COVID-19 vaccination appointment

Getting the vaccine at a walk-in vaccination site

Your child can get a 1st dose at a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site from the day they turn 5.

They can get a 2nd dose if it’s been 12 weeks since their 1st dose, or 8 weeks if they’re at high risk from COVID-19.

Find a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site

Which COVID-19 vaccine will children get?

Children will be given the Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty) vaccine for both doses.

What happens after the vaccination

If your child has certain rare allergies or a history of anaphylaxis, they may be asked to stay for 15 minutes after having the vaccine. This is in the unlikely event they have a serious reaction to the vaccine.

If your child has allergies or had a reaction after a previous dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, tell the staff at the vaccination centre or pharmacy before they are vaccinated.

Research has found it’s very rare to have a serious allergic reaction to the vaccine. If this does happen, it usually happens within minutes.

Staff at vaccination centres, pharmacies and schools are trained to deal with reactions and treat them immediately.

How the consent process works

All parents, or those with parental responsibility, are asked for consent and will usually make this decision jointly with their children. The information leaflet is addressed to the child (as the recipient of the vaccine) and encourages them to discuss the decision about the vaccine with their parents.

Who decides whether a young person can give their consent?

In secondary schools, some young people will be mature enough to provide their consent. Healthcare professionals from the schools immunisation team will speak to the young person and make every effort to contact the parent. These professionals have expertise in vaccinating young people and will be responsible for assessing whether they have enough understanding to self-consent

The Green Book of Immunisation contains more information on consent, including Gillick competence.

You have heard vaccines can cause irregular periods or unexpected bleeding

Period problems are extremely common and can be caused by various factors, including stress and other short-term illnesses. Although some people have reported that their periods were briefly disrupted in the month after vaccination, there is no evidence that this was due to the vaccine.

Can vaccines affect fertility?

There is no evidence that COVID-19 vaccines affect fertility in males or in females. There is some helpful information on the British Fertility Society.

Do the vaccines contain alcohol?

There is no alcohol in the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines, which is the recommended vaccine for young people.

Do the COVID-19 vaccines contain animal products?

The MHRA has confirmed that the vaccines do not contain anything of animal origin. All ingredients are published in healthcare information on the MHRA’s website.

Is the vaccine suitable for young people who are vegan or vegetarian friendly, Muslim or Jewish?

The Pfizer vaccine does not contain any meat derivatives, animal products, or eggs.

The British Islamic Medical Association has produced a helpful guide with further information.

Do the vaccines contain COVID-19?

No, the vaccines do not contain any live virus.