Children aged between five and 11 will be offered Covid vaccines from today in Wales.
Parents and guardians will need to consent to them having the vaccine which the Welsh Government say is a "precautionary offer" to increase their immunity against severe Covid-19 in advance of a potential future wave and to minimise disruption to their education.
Most five to 11 year old children will be offered two doses of the vaccine, 12 weeks apart.
The latest phase of the vaccination programme will also see the over-75s, older care home residents and individuals aged 12 years and over who are immunosuppressed being invited for their fourth doses.
The spring dose is advised around six months after the last vaccine dose to maintain high levels of immunity for those deemed the most vulnerable.
All those eligible for spring boosters are being encouraged to wait for their invitations from their health board or GP.
Wales' health minister Eluned Morgan announced in February that the Welsh Government would accept the JCVI advice to give another boost to people who are at higher risk of severe Covid-19.
At the time the rollout of the jab offer to children was announced, Professor Wei Shen Lim, Chair of COVID-19 immunisation on the JCVI, said: "The committee has carefully considered the potential direct health impacts of vaccination and potential indirect educational impacts.
"The main purpose of offering vaccination to five to 11 year olds is to increase their protection against severe illness in advance of a potential future wave of COVID-19.
"Other important childhood vaccinations, such as MMR and HPV, have fallen behind due to the pandemic. It is vital these programmes continue and are not displaced by the rollout of the COVID-19 vaccine to this age group."
Mrs Morgan said: "It is important we maintain high levels of protection from Covid-19 and everyone who is offered a spring booster vaccination takes up the invitation.
"We are following the latest advice from the JCVI and would everyone who is eligible to wait for the offer of their spring booster."
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