With schools closed for May half term next week, Pharmacy2U is encouraging parents and guardians to book in their five to 11-year-olds to get their Covid-19 vaccinations at its Dorchester site.

The Covid-19 vaccine was extended to five to 11-year-olds following the recommendation from the UK's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) that five to 11-year-olds can be offered the Covid-19 vaccine to boost immunity and increase protection of those most vulnerable.

Phil Day, superintendent pharmacist at Pharmacy2U, said: "Over the past few years, the Covid-19 vaccination roll-out has been a vitally important service for people across the country to ensure that the most vulnerable in our communities are protected.

"Whilst lockdowns have eased and life has mostly resumed, vaccinations play a key part in ensuring that this can continue and so the importance of getting vaccinated in line with NHS and government advice still remains.

"The NHS has been working above and beyond expectation for more than a year, and it's important that it gets the support it needs. We've been working hard to make sure we can offer these sites and help our existing and new patients, whilst alleviating pressure on the NHS."

All five to 11-year-olds will be offered the Pfizer vaccination at a lower dose than the older children and adult dose. Children are recommended to receive two vaccinations, eight weeks apart.

Mark Livingstone, CEO of Pharmacy2U, said: "We are incredibly proud at Pharmacy2U to continue to play our part in protecting the most vulnerable people, and supporting the incredible effort the NHS has put into the vaccination programme.

"Our sites allow people to have easy access to the vaccination and we feel privileged to be able to play a part in easing some of the huge pressures that the NHS is currently under.

"Our vaccination centres and fully trained healthcare professionals will be supporting pharmacists to give patients these vital vaccinations, providing an essential service to help prevent the spread of this terrible virus. We're working closely with the national and regional NHS teams to maintain our vaccination sites for patients in areas that need them most."