Alliance Health spokesperson Paula Bradshaw MLA has called for swift arrangements to be made to offer one dose of the Covid vaccine to school pupils aged 12 and over.

The South Belfast MLA was speaking after news the UK chief medical officers approved offering one dose of the vaccine to everyone in the 12-15 age group, in an attempt to reduce disruption to education.

“It was predictable some weeks ago this moment would come when the advice from the chief medical officers would be to offer the vaccine to everyone aged 12 and over,” said Ms Bradshaw.

“Given the slightly lower take-up of the vaccine in Northern Ireland than in the rest of the UK, plans to offer the vaccine to everyone aged 12 and over should have been being advanced already, and I trust those wishing to take up the offer of the single dose will swiftly be able to do so.

“I hope we will see speedy publicising of the details about how this will be rolled out.”