A therapy dog called Ruby, Superheroes, and a mini toy town full of fun are just some of the innovative attractions lined up by NHS staff and volunteers helping clinically vulnerable children to get vaccinated during half term.

At Tipton Sports Academy, the vaccination hub has been transformed into a mini “toy town” as eligible five to 11 year olds have their COVID jabs.

The area boasts colourful shop fronts, road markings, a treasure hunt and toys for the youngsters attending. At-risk five to 11-year-olds can take part in a range of fun games on their way to getting jabbed, including hopscotch and a treasure hunt, with a game of snakes and ladders while they wait for 15 minutes post-jab. A special video is available here.

Meanwhile, Ruby, the eight-year-old Briard who has worked in hospitals as a therapy dog for seven years, is helping ease any nerves for children with regular clinics at the Forest Recreation Ground in Nottingham.

5-11s at risk in Worcester are being treated to special displays of superheroes and princesses at the St Peter’s Church vaccination centre, with the added attraction of staff dressed as dinosaurs and SpongeBob SquarePants.

There are around 39,000 children in the region aged 5 -11 who are now eligible for a COVID vaccination. Children who are eligible include those with diabetes, immunosuppression, learning disabilities, and other conditions as outlined by the UK Health Security Agency in the Green Book and those who live with immunosuppressed people.

GP led teams have been identifying eligible children to help get jabs into arms as quickly as possible. Parents and guardians should wait for the NHS to contact them for when it is their child’s turn to get the life-saving vaccine with local NHS teams already contacting those who are eligible.

All eligible 5–11-year-olds will be offered two 10 microgram doses of the Pfizer vaccine eight weeks apart – a third of the amount used for adult vaccinations.

Roz Lindridge, the NHS England and NHS Improvement director responsible for overseeing the vaccination programme across the Midlands, said:

“From furry friends like Ruby, the much-loved therapy dog, to a mini toy town in the Black Country – the NHS in the Midlands is doing everything it can to get your loved ones protected.

“We know vaccines give significant protection against severe illness from COVID including the omicron variant, so it is important that our youngest and most at-risk get protected.

“As the NHS is now vaccinating the most at risk 5–11-year-olds ensuring they get their vital dose of protection, I would urge parents not to delay coming forward.

“Parents can be reassured that no new vaccine for children would have been approved unless the expected standards of safety, quality and effectiveness had been met.”

In line with national guidance, patient information is sent out to parents and guardians with information on the COVID-19 vaccination.

Parents and guardians are asked to attend with their children and are asked to read the patient information in advance of arriving for their appointment.

Eligible children in this cohort will get a second dose eight weeks after their first dose and can’t receive any vaccination until four weeks after a positive test for coronavirus.

This week the Government accepted advice from The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to make an offer of COVID-19 vaccines to all children aged five to 11 in England, in order to increase protection against potential future waves of coronavirus. The NHS is preparing to extend this offer to all children during April 2022.

The JCVI has also issued updated guidance recommending all 16- and 17-year-olds get a Pfizer booster from three months (91 days) after their second dose.

People aged 16 and 17 can now go to the NHS website and secure their booster appointment in advance two months (61 days) after their second dose.

Over 21 million vaccinations have now been delivered in the Midlands including over 8 million first doses, 7.5 million second doses and 5.8 million third doses.