The NHS vaccination programme has expanded further so that 12 to 15 year olds who are most at risk from Covid can now book in their booster online.

The national booking service has been updated so that the most vulnerable in this cohort, including those who are severely immunosuppressed and with underlying health conditions, can quickly and easily book in a booster jab when they become eligible.

As many as 6,400 invitations have already been sent to parents and guardians of eligible children inviting them to get vaccinated by a local GP led team. The NHS is shortly writing out to the 4,400 currently eligible to invite them to book in using the national booking service.

Nikki Kanani, Deputy SRO for the NHS Covid Vaccination Programme, said: “Children’s lives, including their education, have been significantly disrupted over the last two years and every parent wants to do all they can to protect their little ones and keep them in school. But when a family has the added worry of what Covid could mean for a child who is seriously unwell, getting them their top up boost in protection as soon as they become eligible is vitally important.

“For young people aged 12 to 15 who are clinically at risk that is a booster three months after their second dose, with it now even easier for families to get their child booked in and protected at a convenient vaccination centre nearby.”

To date, he vaccination drive has delivered almost 32 million boosters to more than four in five eligible adults over 800,000 young people aged 12-15 have had a second jab in total.