St Helens 12-15 year olds urged to take up Covid-19 vaccinations
Younger residents aged between 12-15 across St Helens Borough are being urged to get their Covid-19 vaccinations after latest figures show that just over half of eligible teenagers locally have stepped forward to receive their first jab.
Article date: 4 March 2022
The figures show that nearly 3,000 teenagers (aged 12-15) in the borough have received their first vaccination since they first became eligible late last year.
However only 20 per cent of 12-15 year olds have so far had their second jabs and more young people are now being encouraged to come forward and get fully vaccinated.
Latest Covid-19 figures for the borough show that infections remain high with 402 new cases confirmed in the week leading up February 25th and an infection rate of 222 per 100,000 during the same period.
With Covid-19 infection rates in local schools still causing concern, more 12-15 year olds in the borough are now being asked to come forward and get their first, second and booster jabs as soon as they are eligible.
Up to February 23rd, 2,824 12-15 year olds in the borough have received their first vaccination, with 1,663 now fully vaccinated. However 4,183 teenagers in the age bracket (48 per cent) have yet to receive their first vaccination.
Councillor Anthony Burns, St Helens Borough Council Cabinet Member for Wellbeing, Culture and Heritage said: "There is no doubt that the protection given to residents by the Covid-19 vaccination programme has played a significant role in helping us tackle the most recent variant of the virus.
"So it is really important that younger people in the borough do take the opportunity to get vaccinated as soon as they can, now they are eligible.
"Having the vaccination will not only reduce the risk of you contracting Covid-19 or becoming seriously ill with the virus. It will also make it significantly less likely that you will pass it on to others."
Ruth du Plessis, Director of Public Health at St Helens Council, said "Although infection rates in the borough are currently lower than previously, it is very important that younger people in particular still take the opportunity to get vaccinated as this is where we have seen rapid increases in infections, particularly in schools, when new variants emerge.
"Having just one dose of the vaccine makes a significant difference and can reduce the risk of severe disease by around 33 per cent. However, having the second vaccination makes an even bigger difference, and can reduce the risk of serious illness from Covid by between 60% and 88%. That means you could have around double the level of protection, if not more.
"If you are eligible for a first or second vaccination, please book an appointment and have the jab. Once you are offered the booster vaccine please do take the opportunity to have this as well as it can significantly strengthen the existing protection you have."
Residents aged 12 -15 can apply for their first vaccination by either booking online at www.nhs.co.uk or by contacting their GP surgery.
For further details on appointments and opening times at vaccination centres in St Helens borough visit : https://www.sthelensccg.nhs.uk/covid-19-information/covid-19-vaccine-update/
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