The Cabinet meeting of Tuesday 27 July, 2021 has made the welcome decision to extend the vaccination programme to include all children between the ages of 12 and 15. This decision on vaccination was made on the on the basis of a recommendation from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC).

The consent of parents will be needed, and the Government will roll out an information campaign.

Senior Government sources, including Minister Simon Coveney, speaking on RTE’s lunchtime news, said NIAC opted to recommend vaccinations for all children between 12 and 15 rather than just vulnerable children, after considering the balance of risks between both options.

The vaccination campaign for this age cohort will start “as soon as possible”.

According to media reports it is understood 12- to 15-year-olds could be offered an appointment as early as next week, once the Health Service Executive (HSE) puts a plan to vaccinate this age cohort into operation. 

The HSE will spend a number of days this week making arrangements to accommodate the new cohort - this will involve allowing parents to register their child on the portal, and accompany them to the relevant vaccinations centres.

(source: RTE and Irish Times)

CFI welcomes this news and we will of course provide further updates as soon as we have them confirmed.