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Triplets John-Paul, Joshua and Samuel Aney, aged 13, seized the opportunity to get their first COVID-19 vaccine dose at Netherton Health Centre recently.

The 13 year olds will now be eligible for their second dose in 12 weeks time.

Families

Families across Sefton are being urged to get their children protected against coronavirus and use the online booking system to secure their appointment, or call their local centre to book in.

All children aged 12 to 15 can get a 1st dose and 2nd dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (including children who turn 12 on the date of vaccination).

To get their vaccination, children or parents can:

• book their COVID-19 vaccination appointments online for an appointment at a vaccination centre or pharmacy.
• find a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site to get vaccinated without needing an appointment
• Book an appointment at Netherton Health Centre by calling 0151 247 6413
• Call Seaforth Village Surgery on 07979 938 229 to book an appointment

No pressure

If you or your child are unsure about getting vaccinated, you can also go along to your nearest site and discuss with staff without pressure to get the jab.

Dr Ken Lamden, a local GP working on the vaccination programme, said: “We know that the best protection against coronavirus is to get vaccinated and I’d urge everyone, whatever your age, to come forward and get vaccinated as soon as it is possible.

“Anyone yet to come forward for their booster, first or second dose should check where there nearest site is and take steps to get protected now – it’s not too late.”

12 to 15s

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has also issued advice that 12 to 15-year-olds should be offered a booster vaccine no sooner than three months after their second vaccination if:

• They are in a clinical risk group or who are a household contact of someone who is immunosuppressed
• They are severely immunosuppressed and have had a third primary dose.

16 to 17s

Latest JCVI guidance advises that children and young people aged 16 to 17 years should be offered a booster of COVID-19 vaccine no sooner than three months after completion of their first dose.

Parents and guardians are asked to attend vaccination sites with their children if they are getting jabbed outside of school, and consent will be sought on the day.

Parents and young people are being asked to read the patient information in advance of arriving for their appointment.

14 million

In the North West, more than 14 million total doses of vaccine have been delivered since the vaccination programme began in December 2020, including almost 3.7 million boosters.

Anyone yet to have a first, second or third dose can book in online through the National Booking Service if it has been three months since your last dose and, if relevant, 28 days since testing positive for COVID if you are aged 18 and over.

To check eligibility and find a range of information about the COVID-19 vaccination programme, visit www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/who-can-get-the-vaccine

Former Liverpool Football Club player, Jamie Carragher recently paid a visit to a vaccination site in Sefton to get his COVID-19 booster jab and encouraged others to get their vaccines.

Jamie booked his booster jab at Netherton Health Centre as soon as he was eligible after his second dose of the vaccine to help increase his protection from the virus. He chatted to staff on site and shared a printed message to local residents saying ‘Let’s get boosted’.

Manager

Jenny Macoy is site manager at the COVID-19 vaccination centre, run by GP practices working together as part of the local primary care network. She welcomed the football star and thanked him for helping support the NHS’ message to get protected from COVID-19.

She said: “It’s wonderful when someone like Jamie sets a great example by getting protected both for himself and his community. So many people, especially young people, in Sefton look up to him and will hopefully decide to follow in his footsteps and get vaccinated.

“It’s not too late to get your booster jab or even your first or second dose, so check if you’re eligible and get booked in today.”

Champions

Fiona Taylor, chief officer at NHS South Sefton Clinical Commissioning Group (CCG) and NHS Southport and Formby CCG, congratulated NHS staff, volunteers and members of the armed forces for achieving the Government’s target to offer every eligible adult in England a booster jab by the end of 2021.

She said: “In my eyes our vaccination teams and NHS colleagues are champions, pulling out all the stops to get so many people protected in such a short period of time.

“We can all do our bit to help support our NHS staff by getting vaccinated to help stop the spread of the virus. Thank you to everybody who has come forward for their jabs so far.”

Eligible

Around 79% of eligible adults in England have now received their booster jab including approximately 90% of eligible people aged 50 and over. Those now eligible to book a booster are people who had their second COVID-19 vaccine at least three months ago, and are:

• Aged 16 and over
• Aged 12-15 with a health condition that puts them at high risk from COVID-19, or who live with someone who has a weakened immune system

Those eligible for their booster vaccine can also pre-book a booster appointment from two months after their second dose.

Positive

Anyone who has caught the COVID-19 virus will need to wait before getting their next dose of the vaccine. If you’ve had a positive COVID-19 test and you are eligible for a booster jab you are advised to:

• Wait 4 weeks (28 days) if you’re aged 18 years old or over
• Wait 12 weeks (84 days) if you’re aged 12 to 17 years old
• Wait 4 weeks (28 days) if you’re aged 12 to 17 years old and at high risk from COVID-19

To find local vaccination sites in Sefton, visit the NHS South Sefton CCG website: www.southseftonccg.nhs.uk/get-informed/latest-news/walk-in-or-book-a-covid-19-vaccine

To find out more about who is eligible for the COVID-19 booster vaccine, and to find a walk-in vaccination site or book an appointment through the national booking system, visit the NHS website: www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/coronavirus-booster-vaccine