COVID-19 vaccinations for 16 and 17-year-olds

All 16 and 17-year-olds can get vaccinated. We recommend children aged 16 and 17 to get vaccinated as soon as possible – particularly if they have an underlying health condition that puts them at higher risk of getting seriously ill from COVID-19.

Sixteen to 17-year-olds can book online or go to a walk-in centre for their second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. You can get vaccinated by:

• Turning up at a local COVID-19 vaccine walk-in centre or Camden’s COVID-19 vaccine bus (find out when it’s near you at camden.gov.uk/getting-the-vaccine)
• Waiting to hear from your GP
• If you’re going to be 18 in the next three months, book an appointment by calling 119 or visiting nhs.uk/coronavirusvaccine. All 16 and 17-year-olds can also book their first COVID-19 vaccination appointment online.

Booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine

A booster dose of the COVID-19 vaccine is available for everyone aged 18 and over, and some young people aged 16 and over, who have had 2 doses of the vaccine at least 3 months ago. Find out more and book your appointment.

COVID-19 vaccinations for 12 to 15-year-olds

Two doses are now being offered to children aged 12 to 15 to give them the best protection against COVID-19 and to prevent them spreading the virus within schools or to family members.

The NHS has been delivering the vaccine programme in schools. Parents and carers are asked for consent beforehand and have been encouraged to make this decision jointly with their children.

Most children aged 12 to 15 can:

• get their COVID-19 vaccine at school
• book their COVID-19 vaccination appointment online for an appointment at a vaccination centre or pharmacy
• check if there is a walk-in COVID-19 vaccination site near them to get vaccinated without needing an appointment.

Not all walk-in vaccination sites can vaccinate children aged 12 to 15. More sites will become available over time.

Find out more at nhs.uk/coronavirusvaccine or speak to your GP. To learn more about the vaccine before choosing whether to have it, visit the NHS website here or or camden.gov.uk/covid19vaccine

Public Health England (now the UK Health Security Agency) has updated its page of resources for young people and their families with answers to some frequently asked questions.

If you or your child aged 12 or over is clinically vulnerable, please speak to your GP about the COVID-19 vaccine as soon as possible.

Emotional wellbeing and mental health

• Back to school wellbeing tips - September 2021
• Guidance for young people (PDF)
• Kooth - free, safe and anonymous online mental health support
• Camden Rise - young people's emotional wellbeing
• Childline has created a web page with information for children and young people about coronavirus
• Young people can visit these 'Keep calm, stay connected, be safe' web pages
• Children and young people's mental health charity, Young Minds, has also produced this blog. What to do if you’re anxious about coronavirus

All schools and further education colleges are open for face-to-face learning and all pupils are expected to attend school as their learning is prioritised.

Summary of Government guidance for education settings - updated 20 January 2022

Lateral flow testing

• School staff and secondary school pupils should continue to do regular twice-weekly lateral flow tests (LFTs)

• Anyone who has symptoms of COVID-19 must self-isolate and take a PCR test. They should not rely on a lateral flow test. 

Face coverings

• The Government has announced that from 20 January staff and pupils in secondary schools and colleges will not be required to wear a face covering in classrooms and, from Thursday 27 January, you will not be required by law to wear a face covering, including in communal areas

• However, the Government “suggests that you continue to wear a face covering in crowded and indoor spaces where you may come into contact with people you do not normally meet”

• In addition, if a school or college is experiencing an outbreak and their risk assessment has identified the use of face coverings as an appropriate mitigating action, then the advice of Camden's local Public Health team is that they may continue to advise the use of face coverings

• Transport for London says that face coverings must continue to be worn for the full duration of journeys on the public transport network, including inside stations. There’s more detail on this TfL requirement here

• For circumstances where people are not able to wear face coverings, see page 8 of the Government's latest updated operational guidance for schools.

Other information

• Back to school and college safely leaflet (four pages, updated September 2021)
• Early years and childcare services, including children's centres, nurseries and childminders remain open.

Department for Education helpline

Schools, colleges or nurseries can contact the Department for Education coronavirus helpline on 0800 046 8687. Lines are open Monday to Friday, from 8am to 6pm, and Saturday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm.

Local contact email address for public health advice

Education and childcare staff can also contact our local public health teams via their email inbox. This is monitored 24/7: email your enquiry.
 

A-level and GCSE results - how Camden students performed this year

• A-level results in Camden 
• GCSEs in Camden

Information and support for students

• National exam results helpline
• Advice and support - Camden Careers and Connexions service
• Camden Apprenticeships
• Camden Sixth Forms and Colleges
• Kickstart Scheme - six-month placements for 16 to 24 year olds
• Kooth - free online mental and emotional wellbeing support

Your Future

Your Future has been set up in Camden to:

• help make it easier to find the services available
• provide one-to-one advice
• signpost you to the right support based on your needs. 

If you’re 16 to 24 and looking for work or job advice, Your Future is here to help. Find out more and contact us

Youth centres, activities and support

Find out more about what activities and support is available through our youth centres on Camden Rise website.

Careers and Connexions

Our Careers and Connexions service is running a virtual drop-in service, which is open by telephone every day, Monday to Friday, from 10am to 1pm and 2pm to 4pm. 

If you're aged 13 to 19 (up to 25, if you have special educational needs or disabilities), you can chat over the phone to a Connexions careers adviser and get advice on training, education and jobs, including apprenticeships. Call 020 7974 7252 or email connexions@camden.gov.uk

Face-to-face sessions with a Careers and Connexions personal adviser are also now available by appointment - call or email us to book. 

Young people's mental and emotional wellbeing

For young people's mental and emotional wellbeing support, visit the Camden Rise website.

After-school and holiday play schemes

The play provision in Camden is run by community and voluntary organisations. These are funded by the Council, to provide after-school clubs and holiday play schemes for children aged four to 12. It includes specialist services for vulnerable children, young people and their families with varying needs.

After-school provision 

Providers are currently following Public Health guidance in the way they operate. They are no longer operating 'bubbles' - however, they will continue to minimise mixing between children where possible. Places are limited but available to all children. Please contact centres to check availability.

Holiday play schemes 

• Find out more and see a list of play schemes near you here
• For more activities and support for children and young people in Camden, visit the Camden Rise website

Last year, temporary changes were made to paediatric services in north central London (NCL) to ensure patients and families could continue to receive safe and high quality care during the pandemic. 

The following children and young people’s accident and emergency departments have now reopened:

• University College Hospital (reopened on 8 April 2021)
• Royal Free Hospital (reopened on 12 April 2021). 

Other local emergency units include the southern hub at the Whittington Hospital, North Middlesex University Hospital and Barnet Hospital. 

If you are unsure where to take a child in need of emergency treatment, visit 111.nhs.uk or call 111. In a life-threatening emergency, dial 999 immediately.