Written question WQ84522

I have accepted the evidence-based advice of the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), published on 16 February, to expand the COVID-19 vaccination programme to all children in Wales aged five to 11 who are not considered to be at clinical risk.

This is a non-urgent offer with the aim of increasing this age group’s immunity in advance of any potential future waves of COVID-19 and will enable children to benefit from as much time in school as possible. This advice is considered as a one-off pandemic response programme and will be reviewed in the longer term.

NHS Wales has been planning for this scenario for a number of weeks and once the necessary immunisation and clinical guidance is in place, health boards will be ready to implement. There is factual and trusted information about coronavirus and the Covid-19 vaccines on the Public Health Wales website and they are now developing further age-appropriate information for children and parents/carers to inform their decision which will be ready soon.

We would encourage families to begin to have conversations about the offer and whether to take up the vaccine when it becomes available.

You can access the statement published by the JCVI here: JCVI statement on vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 years old - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk)

The statement issued by Welsh Government can be accessed here: Written Statement: COVID-19 vaccination for all five to 11-year-olds (16 February 2022) | GOV.WALES