ALL 12 to 15-year-olds will have the chance to receive the Covid vaccine in the coming weeks

Coronavirus vaccinations for children aged between 12 and 15-year-old have been taking place in schools throughout the region since the end of September, with several thousand having already had the jab.

More than 45,000 local children are eligible for the Covid vaccine, which is being delivered in school-based clinics by Virgin Care's immunisation service team.

Home-schooled children, as well as those in private education, will also be included in the vaccine rollout.

Director of nursing and quality Gill May said: "As we head into winter, we know that parents are keen for their children to have the vaccine, not only to ensure they are protected against coronavirus, but also to minimise the risk of any further disruption to education.

"Our colleagues at Virgin Care are visiting schools on a daily basis, and we have already seen a strong appetite for the vaccine from families in all parts of our region, which is fantastic.

"As is the case with any complex vaccination programme, there may be times when planned clinics have to be rearranged due to factors outside any organisation's control, such as staff sickness and classroom isolation following a positive Covid test result.

"In these cases, sessions will be rearranged as quickly as possible, with plans put in place to ensure that all children are bale to receive their Covid-19 vaccination before the end of November."

There were 180 Covid cases linked to schools in Swindon between September 30 and October 6.

A Swindon Borough Council spokesperson said: “The Council monitors internal pupil absence data on a weekly basis, including those absences related to Covid-19.

“This data is used to identify trends and support schools through regular briefings and individual support.

“The Public Health team at Swindon Borough Council are following national guidance to support a number of Swindon Schools with the management of Covid outbreaks.

“There are a range of measures that can be introduced based on this risk assessment, including face masks and additional testing. Some schools in Swindon are now wearing face coverings following this process.

“We ask all parents that if any children have a persistent cough, high temperature, or loss of sense of taste or smell that they isolate at home and get a PCR COVID test.

“We also ask parents of secondary school aged children to support their young people to test twice a week using LFD tests."

Children who are absent from school on the day of a planned vaccination session will have the opportunity to receive the vaccine from one of a number of community-based drop-in clinics that are currently being planned.

Details of these additional clinics will be sent to schools for onward sharing with parents.

Sixteen and 17-year-olds are also eligible for the coronavirus vaccine, with young people in this age group able to arrange their vaccination appointment directly, either online or over the phone.

More than 60 per cent of 16 and 17-year-olds in the region have so far had a single dose of the coronavirus vaccine.

People yet to take up the offer of a vaccine can still book to have their jab at one of the many vaccination centres located across Bath and North East Somerset, Swindon and Wiltshire.

For more information visit: www.bswccg.nhs.uk