Children from six months old to four years old can now receive the Covid-19 vaccine according to updated guidance from the NIAC.
The HSE has announced that starting on Monday, they will schedule appointments for Covid-19 vaccinations for kids between the ages of six months and four.
Starting today, appointments can be made through www.hse.ie.
Children from six months to four years who have underlying illnesses that put them at a higher risk of developing severe Covid-19 are advised to get vaccinated against it by NIAC.
NIAC has also recommended that Covid-19 vaccination be made available to all other individuals in this age group to protect them from severe disease, provide extra protection from the rare risks of serious illness from Covid-19, like multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children, as well as providing the modest benefit in reducing household transmission to those immunocompromised or too young for vaccination.
Also, NIAC has stressed the vaccine’s safety profile and its immunogenicity in comparison to older kids and teenagers.
Dr Aparna Keegan, Specialist in Public Health Medicine, HSE National Immunisation Office (NIO) said: “We are encouraging parents to familiarise themselves with HSE advice on the Children’s Covid-19 vaccine with information available at www.hse.ie. We know from listening to parents they have questions about getting the Covid-19 vaccine for their children. This is why we have provided information on our website to help parents make an informed decision.
“While serious illness from Covid-19 in this age group is rare, this vaccine offers further protection particularly for children who have health conditions that put them at high risk of severe Covid-19.”
Children in this age group will require three doses of the vaccine with an interval of three weeks between dose one and two and at least eight weeks between dose two and three.
It is also recommended that the Covid-19 vaccine is separated from the administration of other vaccines by 14 days.
Community Vaccination Centres across the country will commence the roll out of clinics from Monday onwards with many commencing clinics later in the week and over the following weekend. At present the vaccination is only available through the community vaccination centres.
Parents are urged to check www.hse.ie frequently for updates on clinic availability in the upcoming weeks as clinic information will be provided there on a rolling basis. Clinics will start in some counties, including Mayo and Donegal, the following week, March 2.