CHILDREN as young as five are set to be offered Covid-19 vaccines following a decision by the National Immunisation Advisory Committee today – with people eligible for a booster urged to get it before Christmas.
NIAC has officially given the green light for kids aged between five and 11 years old to get the jab.
Health Minister Stephen Donnelly has accepted the advice from Ireland’s vaccine experts.
The children’s vaccine has already been deemed safe by the European Medicines Agency with kids getting a lower dose of the vaccine than the adult dose.
There are more than 480,000 primary school aged children in this cohort who will now be offered the jab.
The HSE have already started work on a plan for the roll out of vaccines to children however, it is understood that the special doses of the vaccine will not be delivered to Ireland until December 20th.
Children with underlying health conditions will be prioritised first in the roll of jabs for kids along with children living with a younger child with complex medical needs.
Kids who live with an immunocompromised adult will also be prioritised in the vaccine roll out.
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Minister for Health Stephen Donnelly has said the first batches will arrive in Ireland next week.
He tweeted: “A Covid-19 vaccine will soon be offered for 5-11 year-olds following recommendations from NIAC.
“We’re working with @HSELive on planning for this when the first vaccines arrive next week.
“Full information for parents will also be made available.”
It comes as Taoiseach Micheal Martin yesterday expressed concern about the number of people who are not turning up for booster vaccine appointments.
The Fianna Fail leader said more than 200,000 appointments have been left empty in the past two weeks.
However, there are a number of issues inflating the vaccine appointment ‘no show’ numbers including people in their 60s being offered appointments but who are not yet eligible for the third dose because they received their second fewer than five months ago.
‘BOOSTER SHOTS’
People who were infected are also being offered third doses but are advised not to get the booster for six months after infection.
A HSE spokesperson told the Irish Sun the high no-show numbers may be impacted by people being offered multiple appointments through GPs, pharmacies or vaccination centres.
Chief Medical Officer Dr Tony Holohan is urging people in the relevant age groups not to wait until after Christmas to get their booster jab.
He said: “Do not wait until after Christmas to receive your booster vaccine, the benefits of receiving your booster dose far outweigh any potential risks that may arise in the meantime.
‘PRIORITISE BOOSTERS’
“You will begin to receive the benefit of your booster protecting with seven days of receiving your third dose.
“This means that anybody who received their vaccine this week can be confident in the protection the booster will offer them as we move closer to the Christmas period.
“As such, is it vital that all of us prioritise our booster appointments as soon as we receive them or make the time to attend a walk-in vaccination clinic if that option is available.”
‘UNCERTAIN’
Dr Holohan said the trajectory of the virus in Ireland “remains uncertain”.
He said: “The current high incidence of Covid-19 that Ireland is experiencing is driven by the Delta variant, which, coupled with the presence of the Omicron variant, means that the trajectory of the disease remains uncertain.
“Booster vaccinations have been shown to produce very strong antibody responses and are likely to provide protection against severe disease, hospitalisation and death from most variants, including Delta and Omicron, at least in the short term.
“In the over 75 age group, where people have been taking up the offer of a third dose of a Covid-19 vaccine in high numbers, we are seeing significant reductions in the incidence of disease.
“This is another positive development and further evidence that getting a third dose of Covid-19 vaccine helps to protect from the most severe effects of Covid-19.
