#alternate alternate BBC Homepage * Skip to content * Accessibility Help * Your account * Home * News * Sport * Reel * Worklife * Travel * Future * Culture * MenuMore Search * Home * News * Sport * Reel * Worklife * Travel * Future * Culture * Music * TV * Weather * Sounds (BUTTON) Close menu BBC News Menu * Home * Coronavirus * Climate * Video * World * UK * Business * Tech * Science * Stories * Entertainment & Arts More * Health * World News TV * In Pictures * Reality Check * Newsbeat * Long Reads * Wales * Wales Politics * Wales Business * North West * North East * Mid * South West * South East * Cymru * Local News Covid vaccine offers for ages 12 to 15 in Wales by half-term Published 4 October 2021 comments Comments (BUTTON) Share (BUTTON) close Share page (BUTTON) Copy link About sharing Related Topics * Coronavirus pandemic Girl getting a jab Image source, Getty Images Image caption, Children aged between 12 and 15 will be offered vaccination by the end of term, Eluned Morgan says All 12 to 15-year-olds in Wales will be offered a Covid vaccine by the end of the October half-term, the Welsh health minister has said. The rollout is due to gather pace this week with all health boards providing jabs, mostly at mass vaccination centres and others in schools. Some of the most vulnerable children have already received the vaccine. Families have been encouraged to discuss the choice to help make an informed decision. Last month the UK's vaccine advisory body JCVI refused to give the green light to vaccinating healthy 12-15 year olds on health grounds alone. It said children were at such a low risk from the virus that jabs would offer only a marginal benefit. The UK's four chief medical officers then said healthy children aged 12 to 15 should be offered one dose of a Covid vaccine as it would help reduce disruption to education. Health Minister Eluned Morgan said studies showed children were at some risk of developing long Covid despite low hospital admission rates. * Wales urged to delay giving children Covid jabs * Child mental health 'collateral damage' of Covid * Covid hospital patient numbers falling "Vaccines remain our strongest defence from the virus, helping prevent harm and stopping the spread of Covid-19," she said. "Some studies show one in seven children who have been infected with the virus are thought to have also developed long Covid. Graph showing positive tests for younger people in Wales 1px transparent line "We have provided resources and information to help this age group make an informed choice about vaccination. I encourage parents, guardians, children and young people to discuss the vaccination together," she said. Gill Richardson, deputy chief medical officer for vaccines, said: "We have seen the benefits that come from having as many people as possible vaccinated. * More than 10,000 Covid cases in Welsh schools * What are the rules for schools in Wales? "After careful consideration of the evidence, the four UK chief medical officers recommended the vaccination of healthy 12 to 15-year-olds after consultation with experts, such as the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health. "They concluded that the health benefits, combined with the additional benefits of reducing educational disruption and effects on mental health meant that vaccination should be offered. "Children and their families will be receiving links to information with their invitation letters so they can make an informed decision about whether or not to have the vaccine," she said. Chart 1px transparent line Last month the chief medical officers agreed a single dose would help to reduce disruption to education. The recommendation that only one dose be given is related to the very rare risk of a condition called myocarditis, or inflammation of the heart muscle. The risk is tiny after one vaccine dose and slightly higher after two, with 12 to 34 cases seen for every one million second doses. Their decision came after the UK Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation said there was not enough benefit to warrant it on health grounds alone for most children. 'Direct threats' to head teachers Eithne Hughes, director of the Association for School and College Leaders Cymru, told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast with Claire Summers schools were already being targeted. "There have been anti-vax campaigners, who are very, very well coordinated, who have made direct threats to head teachers by phone, by letter - confettis of letter with quasi-legal challenges threatening court action and huge fines, fake NHS consent letters to try and trick schools into sending those out to parents with misinformation." She said it had caused a "real upset in the system". "Let's be really clear about this, the virus is the enemy, not Public Health Wales, not the school, and college leaders are doing their very best to educate learners and get everything back on track again," she said. "So it's deeply disappointing and if these people are listening, I would urge them to desist." Trefor Jones, head teacher at Ysgol Y Creuddyn in Penrhyn Bay, Conwy, said he had received letters from people opposed to children having a Covid vaccine. He said: "It is concerning... It does reference various legal processes they want to take, so yes, it is a challenge... "To be targeted in this way is a little disappointing." Banner Image Reading Around the BBC - Blue * BLACK AND WELSH: Celebrate our multicultural nation; humour, pride and lived experience * HAYLEY PEARCE PODCAST : Tackling the issues that make your group chats go off Footer - Blue (BUTTON) View comments Related Topics * Children * Coronavirus vaccines * Vaccination * Welsh government * NHS Wales * Young people * Coronavirus pandemic More on this story * Covid case rate falls for fourth successive day Published 3 October 2021 * Figuring out the stats on coronavirus in Wales Published 23 December 2021 * Covid hospital patient numbers falling Published 28 September 2021 * More than 10,000 Covid cases in Welsh schools Published 1 October 2021 * How many people have been vaccinated in Wales? Published 20 December 2021 * Children as young as 12 could get Covid jabs Published 18 May 2021 * Wales urged to delay giving children Covid jabs Published 19 May 2021 * Child mental health 'collateral damage' of Covid Published 9 October 2020 * Children's mental health fund to get £9.4m Published 1 February 2021 Related Internet Links * Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. 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