CHILDREN aged between 5-11 years of age can now get the coronavirus vaccine as 16,986 new cases have been confirmed in Ireland.
As of 8am today, 804 Covid-19 patients are battling the virus in hospital – of which, 93 are in ICU.
The Department of Health announced the new cases online and noted the high incidence rate in the Republic.
They tweeted: “Given the current high incidence, the daily case number is based on positive SARS-CoV-2 results uploaded to the HSE COVID Care Tracker the preceding day. These data are provisional.
“@hpscireland and surveillance partners will continue to notify and process cases and outbreaks of #COVID19 on CIDR over this period.”
The HSE today announced that young children can get their jab and issued simple steps parents can follow to get their child registered.
Parents can register their children either online or by phone from today and vaccination appointments are expected to be offered soon after registration is complete.
Here, we outline the simple steps parents can follow to get their child jabbed.
Most read in The Irish Sun
HOW DO I REGISTER MY CHILD?
HSE bosses have told that registering online is the quickest and easiest way to complete the process.
However, parents can also call HSELive on 1800 700 700 to register their child over the phone.
WHAT DO I NEED?
Parents will need to know their child’s Personal Public Service (PPS) number and provide an Eircode, a mobile phone number and an email address.
Children who don’t have a PPSN can be vaccinated and parents can register them over the phone with HSELive.
Once registration is complete, parents will receive a text message with details of their appointment.
Vaccines will be administered in vaccination centres.
WHICH JAB WILL MY CHILD GET?
In line with NIAC guidance, children aged 5-11 years-old will be offered the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
Children will receive a smaller dose than the vaccine for adults and will need two doses about three weeks apart.
In a statement, the HSE said: “The protection they get has been shown to be similar to the protection the Pfizer vaccine provides for adults.”
PARENTAL CONSENT
A parent or legal guardian will need to give consent for their child to get their Covid-19 vaccine.
If registration is done online, parents or guardians will be sent a text message with a link to give consent before the appointment for vaccination is confirmed.
This text will be sent to the number used to register the child.
Parents or guardians will need to attend the appointment in person to give consent if they have not given consent online or have registered by phone.
ATTENDING THE APPOINTMENT
The HSE have created a simple child-friendly comic for children to better understand the process behind getting their jab.
Health bosses are urging parents to read this comic with their child ahead of their appointment.
At the time of the appointment, children will need to be accompanied by an adult.
Children attending alone will not be vaccinated.
The HSE is asking parents or guardians to attend the appointment where possible. If consent has been given online, parents can ask another adult to bring their child, however, where consent has not yet been given, the child’s parent or guardian needs to be there.
Parents can change the appointment by calling HSELive on 1800 700 700.
Parents of children with additional needs who might need an alternative appointment at a quieter time and parents who wish to make appointments for more than one child at the same time can also contact HSELive.
The HSE are asking people to arrive on time for their appointment but not more than five minutes before.
SCHOOLS OPEN
Meanwhile, schools, colleges and creches will reopen later this month despite record numbers of Covid-19 cases in Ireland, Eamon Ryan has said.
Transport Minister Ryan said there will be challenges, but the solution was not the widespread closure of schools.
He said: “It’s important that schools do open on Thursday.
“Each school will have different circumstances. It’ll be more difficult probably, in primary than in secondary because it’s more difficult, particularly for a smaller school to get relief teachers.”
Mr Ryan admitted that some schools may be forced to close due to staffing pressures.
