Vaccines for kids just turning 16

[WombatChocolate]

Hi there. My DS turned 16 about a week ago. He’s keen to get his jab sooner rather than later, but the NHS site is saying it doesn’t recognise him.
Are other people in this situation finding there are less and less clinics available (not surprising given the low numbers at moment….I can see why they aren’t all open all the time) and will he get a GP letter to book? There are no nearby walk-ins.

He could just wait for it to get to his school (assuming they will jab him as a 16 year old given he’s not in 12-15 category now) or should I be lookimg to travel some distance to find a walk-in? I’d rather he had flu and Covid on separate days if possible, plus no dates yet for our Covid one so I’d rather just get in with it that wait.

Thanks.

This service operates for anyone over 16?

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/book-or-manage-a-1st-or-2nd-dose-of-the-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination/

Thanks, but when I entered his details there, it said he wasn’t eligible. I might need to phone the booking line and ask….but suspect they can see same info and will ask me to call GP. Perhaps I will just try that and keep looking for walk-inncentres as they as they appear with little notice.

I spoke to our local immunisation team about this issue just this morning as DD turns 16 today - the day before they're in her school for the clinic! I was advised that 16 year olds can just turn up at a walk-in centre - no need to book.

Thank you.
It seems the booking site doesn’t work for 16-17s unless within 3 months if 18.
Yes, walk-ins are available, but the availability has declined a lot. It really isn’t going to be the case of there being one very nearby each day, but a fair journey. Hey ho, that’s what it will have to be. It’s just a shame he wasn’t 16 about 3 weeks ago when loads of sites were still available. Now the no of 1st jabs has dropped right off and that means far fewer centres.

We are essentially in a jab black-hole. Most of his year group are still 15 and will be done very shortly at school. Most of the 16s have had it done already when there were lots of centres locally. It is just those born in the gap between that and schools being done.

Not the end of the world….we might have to go 20 miles, but I know people went far further to get their jabs a few months ago.

Try this link www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/book-coronavirus-vaccination/book-or-manage-a-1st-or-2nd-dose-of-the-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination/ - it looks like this should work for booking as specifically mentions 16-17 year olds.

Thanks for the links.
When I type in my DSs Date of birth etc it then says he is not eligible. At the very end it then says anyone under 17 and 9 months can’t louse the booking service. It’s a bit annoying, because as you helpful people have seen, on the front page, it says they can. So there is a contradiction. It points me towards walk-ins.

You will need to find a walk in centre that has the correct staff to vaccinate the 16 - 18 year olds. Your local health authority web site should have this information.
Not all centres are able to vaccinate this age group.
He won't be able to be seen at school now he is 16. The vaccine is only available to the under 16s at school.

This is where you can find the walk in vaccine centres for 16-17 year olds

www.nhs.uk/conditions/coronavirus-covid-19/coronavirus-vaccination/find-a-walk-in-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-site/

Glad to report we have been and had the jab today. Travelled 15 miles in after school Friday rush hour traffic to have it - was 2 hr round trip, with the 15 minute queue to get the jab and 15 mins sitting after. This was a go a walk-in place in end.

I called 119 to try and book - they told me I could book on the national booking site. I told them it wouldn’t let me and when they looked, it also took them through to the late that asks if you’re a frontline healthcare worker, then says ‘not eligible’, then says anyone under 17 and 9 months can’t use the booking service..l.despite the front page saying anyone over 16 can. No-one could understand why it was happening. I also called our local service provider who operates on behalf of the local GP surgeries and they also couldn’t book him in.

However, no trouble at the walk -in.

Incidentally today the email about school jabs came too, was very clear only 12-15 could have it in school and anyone older needed to go elsewhere. Also said we could use the national booking site.

Just wondered if any other 16 year olds have found they can’t actually use the national booking site or if it’s just a glitch with us.

Anyway all done. So that’s good. Thanks for the help people gave.