Can my DC have vaccine outside school?

[Loudestcat14]

My DC is scared of needles so if they have the vaccine we'd like to get it done in a walk-in centre where me or their dad can be with them, rather than at school. Is this possible? Do we just book online like we did for ourselves?

I'd like to know this too

We have been told not. In our area it's being done by the school vaccine service. If you don't have it in school then you can contact them to arrange to attend a catch up clinic later in the year which has been standard procedure for all school vaccines. Under 16s can't go to a walk in centre.

Call the free phoneline 119? They should be able to advise.

Only over 16s can book online.

How old is the child? You could ask the school if a parent can attend to sit with them due to needle phobia.

In our area it’s just schools at present but they are planning a “catch up” clinic at half term and in the Christmas holidays.

@3teens2cats

We have been told not. In our area it's being done by the school vaccine service. If you don't have it in school then you can contact them to arrange to attend a catch up clinic later in the year which has been standard procedure for all school vaccines. Under 16s can't go to a walk in centre.

Currently this. The school age immunisations team is likely to have a contact email or number where you could ask if they will be running any needle phobic clinics - they are likely to have to run some outside schools to deal with e.g. home schooled children.

If your DC is under 16, then nope, they can’t go to a walk in, or book online. If they’ve got a relevant health condition then they will have been previously invited to book via the GP, but if they don’t, then they’ve got to have it in school for now. If they miss the upcoming session there should be a catch up visit by the school team in the coming weeks.

@3teens2cats

We have been told not. In our area it's being done by the school vaccine service. If you don't have it in school then you can contact them to arrange to attend a catch up clinic later in the year which has been standard procedure for all school vaccines. Under 16s can't go to a walk in centre.

That's interesting, thanks. Feels a bit like being strong-armed though – either do it when we say or miss out until later in the year.

If they don’t have the vaccine (my 15 year old doesn’t want it) will they be restricted on holiday destinations in the summer? I guess it’s a case of wait and see but I wonder how easy it would then be to get a vaccination if that made her change her mind.

I imagine it's a possibility, Tuliprain. I've emailed our school to see if they'll allow us to accompany our DC. Vaccines are being carried out during an inset day so hopefully they'll agree.

@Tuliprain, they will probably be restricted whether or not they have the vaccine as most other countries don't consider 1 jab to be fully vaccinated which is all that is on offer here. That said, the situation is changing constantly so who knows for next summer.

It's on the government website that under 16 year olds can't go to walk ins and there is no plans for this to change.

If they miss it at schools they will get it at a second 'go around'.

I am not getting my ds's done on the basis i want it on a day i am working and don't want to be at work of he suffers side effects

I've e-mailed the school to see if we can accompany dc

That's probably the best approach. I would think the school would appreciate a heads up if a pupil has a needle phobia and might be grateful that you're volunteering to come in and calm your dc.
Fear tends to breed fear among children so they would want to avoid a scene I'd imagine.

It might help to prepare your dc as much as possible, maybe watch a couple of videos online of people receiving the covid vaccine so they know what to expect?

Good luck.

Where do you live?
Here in south east Wales we have to take our dc to a vaccination centre. Thankfully ds1s has come through for an evening that we can get him there on time!

Depends on the vaccination centre as there are extra requirements by NHSE that need to be in place to vaccinate u16s and many aren't compliant with these. I dont know if it's the qualifications of the vaccinators or insurance exclusions for the venues or something else, but the CEV u16s in my area had separate clinics set up at a local health centre because the adult hubs that have been set up did not meet the NHSE requirements. They seem to be a bit reluctant in my area to set up any more u16 clinics as they know they'll be offered it in school soon.