NHS Ayrshire and Arran health chiefs are inviting all 5-11-year-olds to come forward for their Covid vaccination.

They are the latest age bracket of people to be offered their jags.

Health chiefs say that letters will be sent to all parents and carers of children in the age group this week, with doses to be given from March 19.

It comes after advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) on February 16 recommending the universal vaccination of five to 11-year-olds.

The children will receive their Covid jags in community clinic settings. 

They will not, however, receive a full-size dose of a Covid vaccine; they will instead receive a third of the amount given to adults.

Those who have specific medical conditions which place them at greater risk from Covid-19 will continue to be prioritised in the local rollout.

Those with specific medical conditions or who live with someone who is severely immunosuppressed are eligible for two doses at least eight weeks apart, and those who are severely immunosuppressed are eligible for three doses at least eight weeks apart.

All other children are being offered two doses at least 12 weeks apart.

Lisa Davidson, NHS Ayrshire and Arran assistant director of public health, said: “We continue to prioritise those five to 11-year-olds who are at risk, or who live with someone who is severely immunosuppressed.

"The benefits of vaccination far outweigh the risks for children in this cohort and we urge parents and carers to read all the information available to them on NHS Inform when making their decision.

“All other five to 11-year-olds will receive their appointment letters in due course, with older children invited first and families invited together wherever possible. This will allow for second doses to be delivered before the start of the new school year, provided at least eight weeks have passed since the initial dose.

“We understand that parents and carers may well have questions regarding the vaccine for their child. We are happy to arrange a discussion with a local clinician – any parent or carer in Ayrshire that wishes to do this should call 01563 826540 in the first instance to make the request.

“Our vaccinators are working hard to make our clinics as welcoming as possible and feedback from local families attending so far has been overwhelmingly positive.”