Covid jabs for our school kids

Every healthy 12 to 15-year-old in Wales will be offered a first dose of a Coronavirus vaccine and booster jabs are on the way, Welsh Government has confirmed.

Health Minister Eluned Morgan has announced the Welsh Government will accept the advice from the UK's four chief medical officers who looked at the wider health and wellbeing benefits of vaccination for this age group.

In a joint statement to each of the UK's health ministers, the four CMOs concluded that vaccination will help reduce transmission of Covid-19 in schools and reduce - but not eliminate - education disruption

Baroness Morgan said: "I have accepted this advice and we will now begin preparations to invite 12 to 15-year-olds who have not yet been vaccinated to have a first dose of the Pfizer vaccine."

Booster jabs for frontline healthcare workers, care home residents, over 50s and younger adults with health conditions have been recommended by the JCVI and will now be rolled out across Wales as soon as next week.

The Pfizer jab is recommended, regardless of which vaccine people had previously, and it should be given at least six months after the second dose.

Baroness Morgan added: "We have been preparing for an autumn booster campaign over the summer.

"Our NHS is ready to deliver this and we will start next week by offering a booster vaccine to people living and working in care homes and frontline health and social care staff.

"We will then offer it to everyone over 50, all frontline health and social care staff and all those with underlying health conditions – just as we did with the first two doses of the vaccine."

Baroness Morgan reiterated that Wales has very high rates of vaccination thanks to the "hard work of everyone involved in our fantastic programme".