Dear Parent/Carer
On Tuesday 14 September, the UK’s Chief Medical Officers announced the approach to providing the COVID-19 vaccine to healthy people aged 12 to 15.
The last eighteen months has been extraordinarily difficult for everyone, but especially for young people who have endured extended disruption from school. Vaccinating young people is our best chance of keeping them in the classroom – hugely important for their education, mental wellbeing and life chances.
We are rolling out the COVID-19 vaccination programme to all schools to get as many children and young people as possible vaccinated so we can get their lives back on track. Your support is vital in encouraging your child aged 12 and over to take up this vaccination offer.
Roll out of COVID-19 vaccination programme in schools
We are inviting your child or those in your care aged 12 to 15 to take up the vaccine from the week commencing 20 September.
The vaccination programme will be led by Greenwich GPs working in partnership with Young Greenwich School Nursing Service and Charlton Athletic Community Trust.
The vaccine will also be available in school to all 16 to 17-year-olds who have not yet had their vaccine.
Type of vaccine
The vaccine offered to these age groups will be a first dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.
Consent
Children will only be vaccinated with parental consent. We will not vaccinate any child aged 12-15 years unless there is consent from the parent/carer. Young people aged 16-17 do not need to complete an e-consent and can drop in to the COVID 19 vaccination clinic on the day and provide consent themselves.
An eConsent form for parents/carers to complete is available online at
https://app.schoolscreener.com/Portal/#/Oxleas/imms/ox11/145895. If you experience difficulties accessing the eConsent system please email
https://parentsupport.schoolscreener.com/portal/en/home and they will be able to assist you.
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To use the consent form, you will need to enter one of the following details for your child: · NHS Number or
- Legal surname, their date of birth and postcode
If you decide you do not want your child to be vaccinated against COVID-19, please still complete the online consent form giving the reason. This will help with future planning.
Next steps
The vaccination clinic will be held at your child’s school on Tuesday 9th November.
Please complete the online consent form by midday on Friday 5th November. Please note the online consent form will close at midnight on the above date. We cannot accept late consent after that time.
If you complete the e-consent providing consent to the COVID-19 vaccination for your child/looked after child and then wish to withdraw consent for that vaccination, please contact us on 020 8836 8621 no later than 48 hours prior to date the clinic is due to take place, failure to do so may result in your child inadvertently receiving the vaccination.
Please ensure your child/looked after child eats breakfast before getting vaccinated. This will help reduce the rare risk of feeling light-headed. If a child is light-headed, we will have glucose drinks and food available, if required.
Further information
You might have personal experience of getting COVID-19 or know someone who has, or you might have concerns about giving the vaccine to your child or a young person in your care. We have attached with this letter some Frequently Asked Questions.
If you or the young person in your care has any additional queries, please:
- Visit nhsvaccinefacts.com
- COVID-19 vaccination for children and young people aged 12 to 15 years • COVID-19 vaccination programme for young people: guidance for parents – GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)
- you can also arrange for a free confidential conversation with a healthcare professional via the Covid Helpline. They will answer any questions and discuss any concerns you have. Book a slot for them to call you here: https://modality.simplybook.it/v2/ or call: 07828 499044. (Please note that this is not a vaccination booking service and provides advice only). • contact your Family Liaison Officer
Thank you for your support.
Yours faithfully,
Steve Whiteman Florence Kroll Lisa Thompson
