Pharmacy2U, which runs a vaccine clinic in Dorchester, is encouraging 12 to 15-year-olds to get vaccinated this half term.

The clinic, at 11 High West Street, will be open and is also offering vaccines to adults.

The pharmacy states that recent ONS data has shown that rates of covid infections among those in secondary school remains high, with around one in 11 testing positive in the week to February 5.

Phil Day, superintendent pharmacist at Pharmacy2U, said: "Despite the easing of Covid restrictions, this remains a vitally important service for people across the country, ensuring the most vulnerable in our communities continue to be protected against Covid-19.

"The NHS has been working above and beyond expectation for more than a year and it's important that they get the support they need.

"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 our clinics are also open to adults who have not yet started or finished their vaccine course."

Pharmacy2U has given more than one million vaccines since January 2021.

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

"The extension of our vaccination service into this new age range marks a huge step in increasing the number of people that will have access to the vaccines and we feel privileged to be able to do so and help ease some of the huge pressures that the NHS are currently under.

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

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