Teenagers in Kirklees who are within three months of turning 18, can now book their vaccine appointment online through the National Booking Service or by calling 119.
Text messages will be sent to more than 100,000 eligible teens inviting them to arrange their jab at a convenient local vaccination clinic.
Findings from the Office for National Statistics this week showed that willingness to get jabbed has increased among 18 to 21 year olds and more than 1.4 million people between 18 and 24 have already been jabbed.
Steve Brennan, Senior Responsible Officer for the Kirklees vaccination programme, said, “It’s fantastic that we can now start to give this life-saving jab to some of our younger residents. It’s been a difficult 15 months for many people, and particularly hard for young people who’ve missed out on so many things that are part of their normal social life. Having the jab means that they and their loved-ones are better protected against the virus.”
Almost 73 million doses have been delivered since the start of the vaccination programme in England, with more than 33 million people receiving maximum protection from the virus.
Vaccinations for others aged 16 and 17 are due to start in Kirklees soon. The NHS will be in touch when it’s your turn.
Children aged 12 to 15 who are clinically vulnerable to COVID or who live with adults who are at increased risk of serious illness from the virus are being contacted by the NHS and invited for their vaccine.
Text invitations appear as an alert from ‘NHSvaccine’ and include a web link to the NHS website to reserve an appointment. People who cannot go online can call the service on 119 instead to book their jab.