Under this phase of the national vaccination programme, which will be completed early next year, everyone under the age of 18 and over six months - as well as all school staff - will be offered the vaccination.

The first schools to be visited by vaccination teams received a letter from the Health Service Executive (HSE) last month and others will receive letters in the coming weeks.

The vaccination teams will not visit every school - some will be asked to bring their pupils to another school on a day specified for administering the vaccinations. In other instances, pupils and staff will be advised to attend a HSE clinic, in which case appointments for children must be made by parents/guardians.

Children under 13 will require two doses of the vaccine, while those who are 13 and over may need a second dose.

“The HSE is initially focusing on vaccinating all children, and arrangements for how the second dose will be given to those who require it will be advised by the HSE at a later date,” a spokeswoman for the HSE said.

Each student offered the vaccine will be provided with a vaccination pack as well as a consent form to be signed by parents of children under 16 years of age.

It is understood that schools and teachers are co-operating fully with the programme. (Source: Irish Times)