Health

Covid jabs for 12- to 15-year-olds: how the UK scheme works

As concerns grow about the slow deployment of Covid jabs to older children we take a look at who is eligible and where the vaccinations can be given.

Which children are now eligible for vaccination?

All children in the UK aged 12 to 15 are now eligible for a Covid jab. The decision was made by the UK’s chief medical officers after consideration of a range of evidence, including the impact on education.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation previously said that while the health benefits of vaccinating this entire age group were greater than the risks, they were not enough on their own to support the move; they then advised that the jabs only be given to children either at risk from Covid or living with someone at risk.

Healthy 12- to 15-year-olds are being offered one Covid jab at the moment, but those vulnerable to Covid, or living with someone who is, will be offered two doses eight weeks apart.

Both the Moderna and Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines have been approved for use in the UK for children aged 12 to 17. But the NHS website suggests that at present under 18s are only offered the Pfizer/BioNTech jab.

Where will children be vaccinated?

According to the NHS and the UK Health Security Agency, Covid jabs will be delivered to most children in schools, during the premises’ open hours, by local school age immunisation services (SAIS) – the same programme that coordinates other school-based jabs such as those against meningitis and HPV.

Letters about when this will happen will be sent by the school. According to NHS England 12- to 15-year-olds who have underlying health conditions can also be flagged for vaccination by their GP and invited to book a jab.

Children who are home schooled, or who do not attend for another reason, will also have the chance to receive a Covid jab. “Parents and guardians will be contacted about when and where the vaccine will be offered,” the NHS said.

Can you get your child vaccinated at a walk-in centre or elsewhere?

All those aged over 18 can get vaccinated at a walk-in centre, however not all centres offer shots to those under the age of 18. An NHS website allows users to find their nearest walk-in vaccination centre and see whether it offers vaccinations to those aged 16 and over, or adults only.

The website states: “If you’re under 16 and eligible for the Covid-19 vaccine you cannot use these walk-in sites to get vaccinated. Please wait to be contacted by the NHS.”

What are the rules on consent?

As with other vaccinations at schools, parents or guardians will be asked for consent for their child. However if this is not given and the child wants to be vaccinated the guidelines say the vaccination teams will decide whether the child is able to make an informed decision. If the child is “Gillick competent” – able to make the decision – providers will try to discuss the matter with parents or guardians, but they cannot stand in the way if such a child wants to have the jab.

If a child has had Covid this term is there any benefit to their having a vaccination?

A natural infection is likely to create some immunity and this response may be broader than would be elicited by vaccination alone – although few studies have looked at just how high this level of natural protection is in children, and there may be variation between individuals. Prof Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England, speaking at an inquiry into Covid-19 and children’s vaccination by the Education Committee, said the levels of protection could be on a par with those arising from vaccination.

“I would anticipate that vaccines and natural immunity in the sense of if you got infected, let us assume, will be broadly similar. I would secondly assume that it will take longer probably to wane in children than in older adults, just because we know that in older adults things tend to wane. That is an assumption. Both of those may be untrue,” he said.

But experts say that even if a child has some natural protection this is likely to be boosted by vaccination, giving better protection, as seen in adults.

“The jab will boost and prolong their protective immunity. Latest data also shows that adults who are double jabbed after having had a natural infection have better levels of protection,” said Prof Lawrence Young, of Warwick University.

Prof Danny Altmann, of Imperial College London, agreed. “From an immunology standpoint the clear answer would be an overwhelming ‘yes’ to the notion of getting vaccinated even if recently infected.”

That chimes with information from the British Society for Immunology and UK Coronavirus Immunology Consortium which states: “It’s likely that for most people vaccination against Covid-19 will induce more effective and longer lasting immunity than that induced by natural infection with the virus. Even if you’ve had Covid-19 you’re recommended to get the vaccine because it will boost whatever immunity you have from natural infection.”

According to the guidelines people should not attend a vaccine appointment within four weeks of having a positive Covid-19 test, or if self-isolating or waiting for a Covid-19 test.

Health

Bayelsa records 98% immunisation coverage

Bayelsa has recorded a 98 per cent coverage in the first round of the 2025 National Immunisation Plus Days (NIPDs) programme conducted from the May 3 to May 6.

Mr Lawrence Ewhrudjakpo, deputy governor of the state, disclosed this during a meeting of the state’s taskforce on immunisation in Yenagoa on Wednesday.

He said that the government’s ultimate target was to achieve 100 per cent coverage in subsequent immunisation campaigns.

Ewhrudjakpo lauded the WHO, UNICEF, the Ministry of Health and other critical stakeholders for the feat achieved so far.

He, however, urged the partners not to rest on their oars as much still have to be done to achieve its target of 100 per cent immunization coverage.

He underscored the need for early preparations ahead of the second round of 2025 NIPDs scheduled for July.

The deputy governor assured the partners that funds for the programme would be released not later than two weeks to its commencement.

He directed all council chairmen to flag-off the second round of the 2025 NIPDs programme at any community other than their respective local government headquarters.

The deputy governor urged the chairmen to meet with the traditional rulers, school proprietors, and religious leaders in their areas to sensitise them on the importance of immunisation.

He also called parents, schools and churches to allow children to participate in the immunisation programme.

”The state government is serious about enforcing its public health law and executive order on compulsory immunisation.

“We have taken our immunisation coverage up to 98 per cent. But we want to take it to 100 per cent this time around, and that is why we have convened this meeting.

“We are also going to make an upward review of the logistics to reflect the present economic realities in the country,” he said.

Presentations by Dr Marcus Oluwadare of the WHO, and Dr Gbanaibulou Orukari, Director of Disease Control, Bayelsa State Primary Healthcare Board, revealed that area councils scored high percentage in the coverage.

They, however, identified poor workload rationalisation, data falsification and lack of commitment on the part of some personnel.

According to Oluwadare, we commend the Deputy Governor of the state for flagging off the NIPDs and chairing all the state ERMs in spite of his tight schedule.

“Bayelsa State was the only state to have full complements of her stakeholders in attendance during the April NIPDs in the whole of Nigeria,” he said.

Health

NCDC records 832 Lassa fever, Mpox cases, 135 deaths

The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has confirmed the country has recorded 832 confirmed cases of Lassa fever and Mpox.

Speaking during a press briefing on Friday in Abuja, the agency’s Director General, Dr. Jide Idris, revealed that 132 fatalities were recorded from Lassa fever and three from Mpox.

While acknowledging a recent decline in Lassa fever infections during epidemiological week 16 (ending April 20, 2025), he warned that the overall risk remains high, particularly in endemic regions.

“Cumulatively, as of week 16, Nigeria has reported 4,253 suspected cases of Lassa fever, 696 confirmed cases, and 132 deaths, resulting in a case fatality rate of 19.0 percent,” he stated.

Dr. Idris attributed recent improvements to intensified surveillance, treatment efforts, and enhanced community engagement. He emphasized, however, the continued need for vigilance and collaboration to sustain progress.

Regarding Mpox, the NCDC boss disclosed that three deaths have been recorded in 2025—two in Abia and Ebonyi States in week 10, and one recently in Rivers State involving a patient co-infected with HIV and tuberculosis. As of week 16, 723 suspected cases and 136 laboratory-confirmed cases of Mpox have been reported across 35 states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). The national case fatality rate currently stands at 2.2 per cent.

“The epidemic curve reveals multiple peaks in Mpox cases, indicating ongoing transmission. While most states have reported suspected cases, confirmed infections are heavily concentrated in Nigeria’s southern and central regions,” Dr. Idris noted.

To address these outbreaks, the NCDC has activated its Emergency Operations Centre (EOC), deployed National Rapid Response Teams to affected states, and prepositioned essential medical supplies, including personal protective equipment and laboratory consumables. Five additional Mpox diagnostic laboratories have also been optimized in Bauchi, Kano, Cross River, Rivers, and Enugu States.

“Healthcare workers are undergoing specialized training in infection prevention, case management, and cerebrospinal meningitis (CSM) care. Community outreach is being reinforced through public awareness campaigns, media engagement, and targeted health communication strategies,” he added.

On cerebrospinal meningitis, Dr. Idris reported a consistent decline in new cases and fatalities over the last three weeks.

He attributed the improvement to effective vaccination, early treatment, and adaptive surveillance strategies tailored to real-time data.

“Although the situation remains serious, strong national and state-level coordination is showing positive results. The response will continue until full containment is achieved and states take full ownership of the CSM Incident Action Plan,” he said.

Dr. Idris also expressed concern about the rising Mpox trend since its reemergence in 2017, with significant spikes recorded between 2022 and 2024, positioning Nigeria among the most affected countries globally. He warned that underreporting and delayed data entry remain challenges that need urgent resolution to ensure accurate and timely outbreak response.

A national mortality review for the recent Mpox deaths is being planned to further assess response effectiveness and identify areas for improvement.

The NCDC reaffirmed its commitment to safeguarding public health through timely surveillance, transparent reporting, and coordinated national response mechanisms aimed at reducing disease burden and preventing future outbreaks.

Health

Only 89 doctors left in Kwara Govt hospitals amid ‘Japa’ crisis – Health Board

The Executive Secretary of the Kwara State Hospital Management Board, Abdulrahman Malik, disclosed that there is an acute shortage of medical doctors in the state-owned hospitals.

Speaking at the state interministerial press briefing for the first quarter of 2025 on Tuesday, April 29, Malik said that due to the ‘Japa’ syndrome, doctors do not want to take up appointments with the state government, even when the government is ready to recruit them.

He lamented that while between 180 and 200 doctors are required in the government service, only 89 of them are available in the service.

He said the number of available doctors only recently became 89 from 86 when three who had left the service returned after the government introduced a new and improved salary for the doctors’ services.

The hospital board’s boss said the government had been trying to attract doctors to the state service with improved salaries and facilities that could encourage them to stay, especially in the rural areas where many of them do not want to go.

He also disclosed that the government has introduced an intern nurses programme for the training of nurses who would replace many nurses who had left the service for abroad.

“The mass exodus of health professionals is severely affecting our capacity to provide adequate care,” the official said.

“Gov. AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq has approved an upgrade in the salaries of our doctors to match federal pay in a bid to retain the few we have left.

“The revised salary structure has led to the return of three doctors who had previously resigned, bringing the total number on the state’s payroll to 89.

“However, the figure still falls short of the estimated 180 to 200 physicians needed to serve the state’s population effectively.

“Nigeria’s doctor-to-patient ratio is currently estimated at one doctor to over 5,000 patients, far below the World Health Organisation’s (WHO) recommended one doctor to 600 patients.”