Covid-19: Vulnerable Northern Ireland children to be offered vaccine

Vulnerable primary school children in Northern Ireland are expected to be offered a low-dose Covid-19 vaccine from late January.

This is in line with the rest of the UK.

Last month, the government's vaccine advisors said five to 11-year-olds with an underlying health condition should receive two doses eight weeks apart.

They also advised it for those five to 11-year-olds who are household contacts of people who are immunosuppressed.

• Covid-19 transmission at 'extraordinary level'

• Vulnerable five to 11-year-olds should get the jab

• Covid jabs for five to 11-year-olds in Ireland

In a statement, the Department of Health said: "In Northern Ireland we expect to commence this part of the vaccination programme in late January, in line with the rest of the UK."

A decision on vaccinating all children in this age range has not yet been made.

In the Republic of Ireland, children are able to register to get the vaccine.

Omicron peak 'in two to three weeks'

It comes as Northern Ireland's chief scientific officer warned that each time we interact with other people it is likely we are encountering someone who has or has had Covid-19.

On Tuesday, Prof Ian Young said about one in 10 people in some parts of Northern Ireland has the virus and that transmission was at "extraordinary levels".

Sinn Féin has said the party is attempting to recall the Northern Ireland Assembly from its Christmas break earlier than scheduled in order to discuss how the Covid situation should be managed in the new school term.

The assembly is not due back in plenary session until 17 January but most schools are due to reopen this week.

A recall motion is being organised by Sinn Féin assembly member Pat Sheehan but it needs 30 signatures from assembly members to succeed.

His party colleague Colm Gildernew, who chairs Stormont's health committee, has also asked for the committee to be recalled early so its members can question Health Minister Robin Swann about the latest situation, including the availability of Covid tests.

Mr Gildernew said the reopening of schools would "provide further opportunities for the virus to transmit" and so his party wanted to recall the assembly to discuss school safety measures.

"We are very, very keen to keep schools open, there's no question about that - open and safe," Mr Gildernew told the BBC's Good Morning Ulster programme.

He said that the provision of ventilation in schools was among the mitigations that needed to be examined.

Prof Young said on Tuesday that the peak of the current Omicron wave was expected in the next two to three weeks.

"Continue to push forward, get your booster or even still your first or second dose of the vaccine," he said.

"It won't provide very strong protection against becoming infected with Omicron but what it will do is provide really good protection against severe illness."

In the four days from 30 December to 4 January, more than 30,000 Covid cases were reported.

Health Minister Robin Swann said: "As expected, we are now facing into an unprecedented surge, due to the Omicron variant.

"These figures are deeply concerning and will inevitably mean yet more pressures for health and social care services."

• RULES: What are the restrictions in Northern Ireland?

• OMICRON SURGE: Variant spreading at exceptional pace

• SELF-ISOLATION: You test positive - what next?

• COVID PASSPORTS: How to get one and how to use one

• CASES: What's the state of play in NI?