How would you interpret this guidance

[Mumski45]

In regard to 16 and 17 year olds eligibility for a covid booster vaccine.

In late December, JCVI advised that those aged 16-17 years, children and young people aged 12-15 who are at higher risk from COVID-19 (table 4) or those aged 12-15 years who are household contacts of immunosuppressed individuals of any age (defined as immunosuppressed in tables 3 or 4) should also be offered a booster.

Do you think it says all 16 and 17 year olds are eligible or just those who are at higher risk?

All 16-17yr olds are eligible for a booster providing its been 3 months since 2nd dose

I read that as all 16-17 year olds.

All 16 and 17 year old, I think anyway?

My 16 year old son was turned away from his vaccine appointment after waiting for an hour and a half on the basis that this paragraph meant only 16-17 year olds at high risk were eligible.

I was quite upset and embarrassed as I tried to point out that he was eligible in front of a long queue of elderly people who had also waited a long time.

DH then took him to a different walk in centre where he was given it without any issue.

I don't understand why this was so difficult to understand so wondered how others would read it.

It’s absolutely all 16-17 year olds. See the national booking service here and Gov.uk here.

That’s pretty crap that the vaccine site turned you away - please please complain to your CCG because it will mean they are turning away a load of other people and some of them might not be as persistent / sensible as you in terms of a) knowing they were wrong and b) going to a walk in.

@Wigeon I did call the vac centre after i got home and was able to read the guidance properly to see why the clinician was so adamant DS wasn't eligible. At the time I pointed out the booking system and NHS website all say 16+ are eligible for booster but she had the guidance on her phone and quoted from it. At the time I was with my Mum and Dad (in a wheelchair) who had also been waiting for far too long and didn't want to hold them up any longer. I got a call back later from the centre who were still insisting they were right even when I pointed out the paragraph and how it should be read. I said he had already been somewhere else and got it and they seemed genuinely shocked but then said so why are you complaining. I explained exactly what you did that I was worried they would wrongly turn others away.
Funnily enough I work for a CCG although not the same area (at least not yet but we are merging soon). I will be taking this further.