Children between the ages of 5 and 11 will be able to get the paediatric version of the Pfizer coronavirus vaccine in the near future, the health department announced last night.

Kim Wilson, the health minister, said supplies of the vaccine for children would be available “soon”, but did not give a date.

She added: “I encourage parents that have children in this age group and have not registered them to be vaccinated, to do so as soon as possible.

“Parents should first register their child on gov.bm/vaccines and then contact their paediatrician to register an interest in getting the vaccine and they will be directed from there.”

She told parents: “If your child does not have a paediatrician, contact the Hamilton Health Centre on 332 8906 for assistance in scheduling an appointment.”

Ms Wilson announced more than a week ago that the UK Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office had confirmed the island would get 2,000 paediatric doses of the Pfizer vaccine for children and that consignment would arrive last Wednesday.

• For more information on child vaccination, call 444 2498 or e-mail vaccine@gov.bm.