First Covid-related death in child under 15 recorded in Northern Ireland

Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency confirmed the harrowing news this week.

The first Covid-related death in a child under 15 years of age has been recorded in Northern Ireland. Over 3,000 lives have been lost to COVID-19 in Northern Ireland since the beginning of the pandemic. They stated, “The latest week’s registration figures include the first Covid-19 related death in Northern Ireland within the under-15 age group." Death in this age group is extremely rare and only makes up 0.5% of the region's death toll. It is understood that 27 Covid-related deaths occurred in the 15 to 44 age bracket since March 2020. The news comes after Northern Ireland extended their vaccination programme to 16 and 17-year-olds. Medical experts have urged teenagers to get vaccinated as soon as possible, especially as the Delta variant continues to spread throughout the community. 7 walk-in vaccination centers will be open across the weekend for people in this age group. They will be given one dose of the Pfizer vaccine. A decision has yet to be made on whehter they will need a second dose or not in Northern Ireland. "When formulating advice in relation to childhood immunisations, JCVI has consistently held that the main focus of its decision should be the benefit to children and young people themselves, weighed against any potential harms from vaccination to children and young people", said Northern Ireland's Health Minister Robin Swann. The vaccination centres will be located at Belfast's SSE Arena, Belfast's Royal Victoria Hospital. There will be centres in Lakeland Forum in Enniskillen, Seven Towers Leisure Centre in Ballymena, South Lake Leisure Centre in Craigavon and The Foyle Arena in Derry, Omagh Leisure Centre. Most teenagers will have mild symptoms if they test positive for COVID-19, but experts have stressed that protecting themselves against the virus by getting vaccinated is the best option.