Parents across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire are being reassured that all children eligible for the Covid-19 vaccination will have the chance to receive the vaccine in the coming weeks.

Since the end of September, coronavirus vaccinations for children aged between 12 and 15-years-old have been taking place in schools throughout the region, with several thousand having already had the jab.

More than 45,000 local children are eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine, which is being delivered in school-based clinics by Virgin Care’s immunisation service team.

Home-schooled children, as well as those in private education, will also be included in the vaccine rollout.

Gill May, Director of Nursing and Quality, said: “As we head into winter, we know that parents are keen for their children to have the vaccine, not only to ensure they are protected against coronavirus, but also to minimise the risk of any further disruption to education.

“Our colleagues at Virgin Care are visiting schools on a daily basis, and we have already seen a strong appetite for the vaccine from families in all parts of our region, which is fantastic.

“As is the case with any complex vaccination programme, there may be times when planned clinics have to be rearranged due to factors outside any organisation’s control, such as staff sickness and classroom isolations following a positive covid test result.

“In these cases, sessions will be rearranged as quickly as possible, with plans put in place to ensure that all children are able to receive their Covid-19 vaccination before the end of November.”

Children who are absent from school on the day of a planned vaccination session will have the opportunity to receive the vaccine from one of a number of community-based drop-in clinics that are currently being planned.

Details of these additional clinics will be sent to schools for onward sharing with parents.

Sixteen and 17-year-olds are also eligible for the coronavirus vaccine, with young people in this age group able to arrange their vaccination appointment directly, either online at www.nhs.uk or over the phone by calling 119.

More than 60 per cent of 16 and 17-year-olds in the BSW region have so far had the single necessary dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

People yet to take up the offer of a vaccine can still book to have their jab at one of the many vaccination centres located across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire.

For more information about the local rollout of the coronavirus vaccine, visit www.bswccg.nhs.uk, and go to either www.nhs.uk or www.gov.uk for details about the vaccine itself.