Three West Berkshire centres for child Covid vaccines

Children aged between five and 11 can now get Covid vaccines at three centres in West Berkshire.

They can book at The Croft at Hungerford, Thatcham Family Hub and Theale Village Hall.

Other centres nearby are Broad Street Mall, Reading, Twyford Surgery, Woodley Centre Surgery and South Reading Community Centre.

Wokingham Library is also offering walk-ins on Sundays for five -11 year olds, but parents are advised to check times.

Children will be offered paediatric (child) doses of the vaccine, which has been approved by the UK’s medicines regulator, to boost immunity and increase their protection against any future waves.

The vaccines won’t be given at schools or at GP surgeries.

Parents will need to take children to vaccination centres or pharmacies administering the jabs as part of the national roll out.

Children aged five to 11 with no other underlying health conditions will be offered two paediatric doses of the vaccine, at least 12 weeks apart.

Those five- to 11-year-olds who are more at risk from the virus can already get two paediatric doses, eight weeks apart, and their GP or hospital specialist should be in touch to arrange this.

Berkshire West health officials say parents and guardians should use the National Booking Service to book a vaccination for their children or or call 119 to book an appointment. Other centres available in the Berkshire area are: Broad Street Mall, Reading, Kassam Stadium, Oxford, South Bar House, Banbury, RAC Business Park, Faringdon and The Guttman Centre, Aylesbury.