BNSSG Healthier Together

Children’s vaccination pods help 5-11s get protected against COVID-19

13 April 2022

COVID-19 vaccinations for all 5 to 11 year olds are being delivered at dedicated children’s clinics run by GPs, community pharmacies and the Vaccination Centre @ UWE Bristol. A children’s area with themed vaccination pods has been created at UWE to make the large, open space more inviting for children.

Vaccinators will welcome children to the under-the-sea or spaceship themed pods, and children will receive specially designed vaccination passports, stickers and certificates to take away.

Interviewed for ITV Westcountry, Claire Armour, Programme Lead for the BNSSG Vaccination Programme said:

“This is quite a large space that could be potentially a bit intimidating for some of the younger children, so what we’ve tried to do is make it a lot more welcoming and give them a few distractions….so they feel a lot more confident and comfortable coming forward for their COVID-19 vaccine.”

Parents/carers in Bristol, North Somerset and South Gloucestershire can make an appointment using the online National Booking Service or by calling 119. GPs may also be in touch to offer a vaccination and children can attend some walk-in centres.

Whether at the UWE Vaccination Centre, a GP practice or community pharmacy, parents/carers will have time before the vaccination appointment to discuss all aspects of the vaccine for children.

Younger children receive a lower (paediatric) dose of the vaccine to help reduce the risk of children falling seriously ill with the virus. They are offered two 10 microgram doses of the Cominratiy (Pfizer) COVID-19 vaccine with an interval of at least 12 weeks between doses.

Children who are immunosuppressed or household contact of someone who is severely immunosuppressed will be offered a third, booster dose.

More information is available on conditions that make children clinically extremely vulnerable in chapter 14a of the JCVI green book.

You can find up to date information for all the vaccination options in our area on grabajab.net.