The Canarian Health Service has announced that it will begin the vaccination of children between 5 and 12 years old against Covid on Wednesday 15th December , after the Spanish Health Ministry authorised the inclusion of this age group in its vaccination campaign.
9,700 children have been contacted for the first round of jabs, but parents will also be able to take children to the Valterra Health Centre in Arrecife to be vaccinated without appointment.
Noelia Umpiérrez, director of Lanzarote health area, says the campaign could help to reduce the amount of virus in this age group, as well as transmission within families, schools and in the community”. She claims that the campaign to vaccinate under-12s will be over by Three Kings Day (6th January)
The vaccine will be voluntary, and parents or guardians will be required to give their consent. This was one of the reasons Umpiérrez gave as to why the vaccinations would not take place in schools. If the percentage of vaccinations is not as high as expected, parents may be called.
Meanwhile, over 21,000 people have received their booster jabs on the island so far, a group which includes the over-60s, but also specialised professions that may require close contact, such as health workers, dentists and occupational therapists.
For regular updates, pictures and videos of Lanzarote be sure to like and follow our Facebook page “Gazette Life Lanzarote”.
