March 2022

Information for parents and carers on COVID-19 vaccination for at risk 5 to 11 year olds

Please share the following information with parents and carers of at risk 5 to 11 year olds.

Children aged 5 to 11 years who are in a clinical risk group or who live with someone who is immunosuppressed can get the COVID-19 vaccine, in line with advice set out by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). Eligible children include those with diabetes, immunosuppression, learning disabilities, and other conditions as outlined by the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) in the Green Book.

Vaccinations help to increase protection against COVID-19, which is particularly important for those with underlying health conditions.

Further information is available in the guide for parents of children aged 5 to 11 years published by UKHSA. We have published some frequently asked questions on the vaccination programme including information on eligibility, accessibility and advice for parents of children at high risk from COVID-19. Following advice from the JCVI, healthy 5 to 11 year old children will also be offered two 10 microgram doses of the COVID-19 vaccine. The NHS will prepare to extend this non-urgent offer to all children during April.

February 2022

Changes to self-isolation and daily testing of close contacts

From Thursday 24 February, the Government will remove the legal requirement to self-isolate following a positive test. Adults and children who test positive will continue to be advised to stay at home and avoid contact with other people for at least 5 full days, and then continue to follow the guidance until they have received 2 negative test results on consecutive days. In addition, the Government will:

More detail can be found in the GOV Living with COVID-19 plan.

From Thursday 24 March, the Government will:

From Friday 1 April, the Government will:

Advice concerning Covid 19 symptoms:

Education settings follow the national and regional guidance on the three main symptoms for Covid.

The main symptoms of COVID-19 are:

• a new, continuous cough and/or

• fever (temperature of 37.8°C or higher)

• loss of or change in, normal sense of taste or smell (anosmia) 

Anyone who develops symptoms of COVID-19, should immediately self-isolate. They should not attend school and should get tested via NHS UK or by contacting NHS 119 via telephone if they do not have internet access.

If there is any doubt about whether symptoms are due to Covid or not, a PCR test should be taken.