All five to 11-year-olds in the Midlands will be able to get their COVID-19 vaccine from today (4 April) as cases continue to rise.

The total number of COVID-19 cases in the most recent 7-day period are 39,894 in the East Midlands (819.9 rate per 100,000 population) and 45,676 in the West Midlands (766.1 rate per 100,000 population).

As well as protecting children and young people against serious COVID infection, by getting vaccinated, children and young people can reduce the risk of passing on the infection to others in their family and those they come into contact with.

Getting the vaccine can also make it easier for children and young people to avoid putting their lives and their education on hold because of further disruption to schools, hobbies and social events due to the virus.

Vaccination appointments will be available to be booked for five to 11-year-olds from today.

The National Booking Service is now open to allow the parents of children who are between five and 11 to book their COVID vaccines.

The NHS is making the vaccine available for all five to 11s following updated guidance from The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which recommended all children would benefit from a non-urgent offer of the vaccine, to help protect against potential future waves of COVID-19 and reduce the risk of children falling seriously ill with the virus.

For decades, vaccinations have protected children and young people from potentially serious diseases including measles, flu, meningitis and mumps. The COVID-19 vaccine is one more vaccine that will help protect children from illness.

NHS staff have already been vaccinating children under 12 who have medical conditions that put them at increased risk from COVID-19 or who live with someone with a weakened immune system, and more than three in five 12 to 15-year-olds have also come forward for a jab.

The majority of appointments for this age group will be available at local vaccination centres or community pharmacies outside of school hours and are available to book via the National Booking Service or by calling 119.

The NHS in the Midlands will be adding more appointments throughout the week so anyone unable to get a convenient slot initially should keep trying.

There are also convenient vaccine walk-ins across the region which families can find via www.nhs.uk/grab-a-jab. The online finder shows which walk-in sites can vaccinate which age groups.

The NHS will also be sending invites to parents and guardians of eligible children throughout the next few weeks to let them know they can now book in for a vaccine and some people will be invited by their GP.

Roz Lindridge, the NHS England and NHS Improvement director responsible for overseeing the vaccination programme across the Midlands, said:

“Rates of COVID-19 are rising and the vaccine remains our strongest defence against the virus. So, it’s important that children aged five to 11 take advantage of this crucial protection to protect themselves, their families and the community.

“We all want to get back to normal – we want our children to go to school, do the things they love and catch up on lost time with family and friends. But COVID-19 is still active and causing some children to miss out on their education and things they enjoy. Some children do become particularly ill with the disease, and also suffer with Long COVID.

“Parents can be reassured that no new vaccine for children would have been approved unless the expected standards of safety, quality and effectiveness had been met.

“NHS staff are helping to make vaccinations as easy as possible for children, including visits by therapy dogs and a mini-toy town at Tipton Sports Academy in the Black Country with youngsters getting to play hop-scotch, a treasure hunt, and snakes and ladders following vaccination.

“Sites are also allowing for longer appointment times so that families can discuss their decisions and ensure visits with children are as stress-free as possible.

“Vaccinations have been key to helping society get back to normal and allowing us to enjoy time with friends, family and loved ones and they continue to play a crucial role in protecting us all against COVID. Across the Midlands there is an ‘evergreen’ offer for COVID-19 vaccinations meaning anyone who has not yet been vaccinated is able to come forward at any time to start their vaccinations.”

Parents and guardians are being encouraged to read the patient and consent information in advance of booking their child’s appointment and will be asked to provide consent for their child’s vaccination on the day.