DORSET healthcare services have unveiled their “ambitious” plans to deliver Covid vaccinations to 12-15 years olds in the region.

From Monday, December 20, the national booking service for 12-15-year-olds to get their second Covid-19 jab opened amid concerns of the Omicron variant.

A spokesperson for the Dorset Covid-19 vaccination programme said: “The NHS is working extremely hard to deliver the Covid-19 vaccination in Dorset to local people, including all children aged 12 to 15. We are grateful to schools, parents and children for their patience.

“The ambitious programme is a significant undertaking, especially as it is running at the same time as the wider Covid-19 vaccination programme, including boosters, and the flu vaccination programme.

“All schools have been given a date for a Covid-19 vaccine visit and children aged 12-15 were offered the vaccination either at school or a vaccination centre. To ensure we vaccinate as many 12–15-year-olds as possible, any children that were unable to receive the vaccine on the day of the school visit can now book an appointment on the national booking system or via 119 at Vespasian House in Dorchester, King’s Park Hospital in Bournemouth and Sentinel House in Poole.

“Any children who haven’t had an invitation can also attend.

The spokesperson added: “Because of the national drive to complete boosters by the end of December bookable slots may not be available on your preferred day. If this is the case then parents are also invited to walk-in with their children at any of the three centres without an appointment.

“Vespasian House and King’s Park Hospital are open 8am to 8pm and Sentinel House is open 9am to 5pm.”

The NHS began rolling out first doses to the 12-15 age group in schools at the end of September and more than 1.3 million young people in the UK have taken up the offer of a vaccine so far.

More than 75,000 schoolchildren are currently eligible for a second dose.