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Covid-19: Irish 12-15-year-olds can register for jab from next week

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Registration for children aged 12 to 15 is to open on August 12

Children in the Republic of Ireland aged between 12 and 15 can register to get the Covid-19 vaccine from next week.

The National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) made the recommendation to extend the country's vaccination programme in July.

Registration is to open on 12 August.

On Wednesday, it was announced 16 and 17-year-olds in Northern Ireland would be offered the vaccine.

Currently in Northern Ireland only children with specific underlying health conditions and who are at risk of serious illness from the virus are offered the Pfizer-BioNtech vaccine.

Last month, former education minister Peter Weir said the programme should be extended to all children over the age of 12 here.

In a tweet on Thursday, Irish Health Minister Stephen Donnelly encouraged parents and young people to seek advice from reliable resources.

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Over the weekend, the Republic surpassed Northern Ireland's vaccination rate, with about 76% of people aged over 18 having received both jabs.

To date, 5,992,433 Covid-19 vaccines have been administered there.

As of Thursday, 2,292,163 vaccines have been administered in Northern Ireland.