Vaccinations for 12-15 year olds

Updated 3 February 2022

The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines are safe and effective. Two doses are being offered to children aged 12 to 15 to give them the best protection against COVID-19.

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Why children are being offered the COVID-19 vaccine

COVID-19 is usually mild in most children, but it can make some children unwell.

One dose of the COVID-19 vaccine gives good protection against your child getting seriously ill. But two doses gives stronger and longer-lasting protection.

Vaccinating children can also help stop the spread of COVID-19 to other people, including within schools.

When children will be offered the COVID-19 vaccine

Children can get a 1st dose of the vaccine from the day they turn 12.

Most children can get a 2nd dose from 12 weeks after they had their 1st dose.

If your child has tested positive for COVID-19 and is not at high risk from COVID-19, they need to wait 12 weeks before they can have a COVID-19 vaccine. This starts from the date of their positive PCR test.

Those that have a specific immunosuppressive condition as set out in JCVI guidance should have three doses in their primary schedule.   These will be arranged by their consultant or GP.

How children can get the COVID-19 vaccine

Most children aged 12 to 15 can:

Getting the vaccine at school

Most children will be offered a 1st and 2nd dose of the vaccine at school during school hours.

2nd doses will be offered in schools from 10 January 2022. Children who have not yet had a vaccine can get their 1st dose during these vaccination sessions.

School immunisation teams will visit your child’s school to give the vaccine.

As a parent or guardian you will get a letter or email with information about when the vaccine will be offered, and you’ll be asked to give consent. You can see the consent letter in the relevant language here:

English, Kurdish, Pashto, Polish, Punjabi, Romanian, Tigrinya, Urdu, Arabic, Czech, Dari

If your child misses their COVID-19 vaccination, for any reason, they will be offered it again at a later date.

FAQs about the Leeds vaccination programme

Will we go to every school in Leeds?

Yes, we will be working closely with all secondary schools in Leeds to provide the opportunity for young people to receive their vaccinations.

Who will be coming into the schools?

NHS staff from the Leeds Vaccination Programme.

Will consent be obtained from parents?

A consent letter with a link to an online consent form will be sent from the Leeds Covid Vaccination Programme to schools, which they then will be sending to parents via email and text. The team on the day will then be provided with information regarding those children who we have received consent to vaccinate.

You can see the consent letter in the relevant language here:

English, Kurdish, Pashto, Polish, Punjabi, Romanian, Tigrinya, Urdu, Arabic, Czech, Dari

Which children are being vaccinated?

All consented young people between the ages of 12 and 15 years old.

What if I don’t want my child vaccinated?

Please indicate this on the consent form you will be/have been sent by your child’s school. You can contact the Leeds Vaccination Centre via email at leedsschoolcovidvaccinations@nhs.net or call them on 0113 206 0593 for further information.

I’ve got the letter but I don’t have access to a computer/I cannot complete the form?

Please ring the Leeds Vaccination Centre on 0113 206 0593 and they can advise you how to provide verbal consent.

Who can I speak to if I have questions?

You can contact the Leeds Vaccination Centre via email at leedsschoolcovidvaccinations@nhs.net or call them on 0113 206 0593.