12-15 year olds across Calderdale are being urged to get their all-important Covid-19 vaccinations during their half-term holiday.

Clinics for 12-15s will be available throughout the week to make it even easier for young people to get their jabs, including Boots Halifax, which has a clinic every day next week. 

With rates of infection remaining high in children in school years 7-11, experts are urging people to get both doses, even if they’ve already had Covid, rather than risk getting Long Covid or missing out on school and social activities.

Director of Public Health Anna Hartley, Lead Vaccination Adviser for the West Yorkshire Vaccination Programme, says she hasn’t hesitated to get her children vaccinated as soon as they were eligible:

“As the mum of two girls aged 12 and 15, I know personally how important it is for them to get vaccinated. We know that people can get Covid again and again and even if it doesn’t make them seriously ill, there’s still the risk of Long Covid or developing further complications. 

“My daughters have both had Covid but I don’t want to run the risk of them getting it again as it might be more severe or mean they miss out on more of their education and time with friends. It’s also important to both me and my daughters that we are doing all we can to protect my parents, who are in their 70s. Having the vaccine gives us the reassurance that we’re all as protected as possible.”

Neil Smurthwaite, Senior Responsible Officer for the vaccination rollout in Calderdale, said:

“This half term offers the perfect opportunity to get your child protected, by visiting one of our special walk-in clinics for 12-15s or booking an appointment online. We’re also offering second doses in school clinics but if your child’s school hasn’t been visited yet, or they weren’t able to have it on that day, the half-term clinics offer another convenient way to make sure they’re fully protected.

Walk-in clinics for 12-15s will run at the following centres during half-term –

·       Boots, Halifax

·       Luddendenfoot Pharmacy

·       Medichem Pharmacy, Northowram

·       Todmorden Health Centre

·       Spring Hall Surgery, Halifax

Please visit www.calderdaleccg.nhs.uk/grabajab for further details or see the table at the end of this story. You can also book an appointment at www.nhs.uk/covidvaccine or by calling 119.

Children aged 12 to 15 need two doses of the Covid-19 vaccination. The JCVI has also recommended that children aged 12 to 15 who are clinically at-risk or who live with someone who has a weakened immune system should have a booster vaccination three months after their second dose.

Parents and guardians are asked to attend vaccination sites with their children to give consent and to read the patient information in advance of arriving for their appointment.

Young people who’ve had COVID must wait 12 weeks until they can be vaccinated, in line with JCVI guidance.

	Saturday 19 February	Sunday 20 February	Monday 21 February	Tuesday 22 February	Wednesday 23 February	Thursday 24 February	Friday 25 February	Saturday 26 February	Sunday 27 February
Boots, 7-11 Market Street, Halifax, HX1 1PB	9.30am – 12noon and 2-4.30pm	11am – 3.30pm	9.30am – 12noon and 2-4.30pm	9.30am – 12noon and 2-4.30pm	9.30am – 12noon and 2-4.30pm	9.30am – 12noon and 2-4.30pm	9.30am – 12noon and 2-4.30pm	9.30am – 12noon and 2-4.30pm	11am – 3.30pm
Luddendenfoot Pharmacy, Kershaw Drive, HX2 6NZ			3.30-5.30pm	3.30-5.30pm	11am – 2pm and 3-5.30pm	3.30-5.30pm	3.30-5.30pm
Medichem Pharmacy, 55 Northowram Green, HX3 7JE			9am – 5.30pm	9am – 5.30pm	9am – 5.30pm	9am – 5.30pm	9am – 5.30pm
Spring Hall Surgery, Spring Hall Lane, Halifax, HX1 4JG	9am – 1.30pm							9am – 1.30pm
Todmorden Health Centre, Lower George Street, OL14 5RN					1.30-6pm