Parents in Cornwall will be able to book Covid-19 vaccinations online for their 12 to 15-year-old children from the end of today (Friday).

Appointments will be available as soon as next Monday (October 25) for sites at the Royal Cornwall Hospital (RCHT) in Truro and the vaccination centre at the Royal Cornwall showground in Wadebridge.

Iain Davidson, the chief pharmacist at RCHT, who is helping in the roll-out of the vaccination programme across the county, is urging people to come forward as soon as they can for their jabs and said he hopes to see a good flow of young people and their parents during the half-term week.

Iain said: “We are pleased to be able to offer Covid-19 vaccinations at our vaccination sites at Treliske and the showground at Wadebridge for those 12 to 15-year-olds who choose to take up the offer.

"As well as half-term week, we’ll be running after-school and weekend clinics during term time, all bookable through the NHS booking system. Children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. There is dedicated free parking on both sites and we look forward to welcoming people very soon.”

These latest options for parents to book a vaccine for their child will be offered alongside the schools programme, which has already vaccinated nearly half a million young people in schools across England.

If a child has already been invited through their school they can continue to get vaccinated that way, unless parents wish to get their child vaccinated outside of school, including during half-term.

Parents and young people are being asked to read the patient information in advance of arriving for their appointment. This can also be accessed online.

As more sites come online, parents will have the extra offer of getting their children vaccinated at existing vaccination sites across the county, including GP practices, community pharmacies and other local sites. Parents are being advised to keep checking the NHS.uk website as more appointments and sites become available.

Millions of letters will be sent to parents and guardians of children aged 12 to 15 over the coming weeks, inviting them to book the vaccine online or by calling 119 as the NHS Covid-19 vaccination programme continues at pace.

More than 83 million vaccines have already been delivered and nearly nine in ten adults have had their first dose since the NHS in England started the roll-out.

The NHS booster vaccine roll-out is also well underway with more than four million people already receiving the top up jab ahead of winter.

Iain added: “Anyone receiving a text or letter inviting them for a booster jab should come forward as soon as possible to get that crucial protection before the winter arrives. We’ve seen a good start to this in Cornwall but we know there are people out there that are eligible, have been invited and haven’t come forward yet. We urge them to book-in as soon as they can.”