A MAYOR was alarmed after his 17-year-old triplets were refused coronavirus jabs at the Blackburn Cathedral vaccination centre despite having NHS letters inviting them to go along.

Blackburn with Darwen’s first citizen Cllr Derek Hardman was delighted when children Ella, Abigail and Owen received official letters on Thursday confirming their eligibility for the Covid inoculation.

But he was dismayed when they attended the Cathedral walk-in jabs hub with their mother Colette and were told they needed to be 17 years and 10 months to get the vaccination.

Concerned that other 16 and 17-year-olds now entitled to be immunised could miss out, he contacted local public health director Professor Dominic Harrison.

Equally worried, Prof Harrison immediately contacted the NHS for an explanation and he said the 'miscommunication' had now been ironed out.

Cllr Hardman said: “I was delighted that Ella, Abigail and Owen, who were 17 in February, received a letter inviting them to get their Covid jab.

“They all wanted to have theirs before returning to sixth form in September.

“They looked online to see Blackburn Cathedral had a walk-in centre for Pfizer jabs.

“My wife took them only to be told they needed to 17 years and 10 months. Collete showed the letters but was still told they were not yet old enough to have the jab.

“I am very concerned about this. Blackburn with Darwen has one of the youngest populations in the country and I do not want our 16 and 17-year-olds missing out. Other young people refused jabs at the Cathedral might not go back.

“I contacted Professor Harrison and he promised to sort this out.”

The triplets eventually got their jabs at a Chorley walk-in centre on Thursday night.

Prof Harrison said: “I was concerned but thankfully this was just a glitch.

“I have now seen an explanation from the NHS on this issue.

“This appears to have been an unfortunate ‘one-off’ miscommunication.

“The NHS have written to apologise to Cllr Harman and his family over this and clarified the triplets eligibility.

“They have asked that the site lead speaks with all staff immediately to ensure that there is no further confusion regarding the vaccination offer to 16 and 17-year-olds.

“They have assured us that 16 and 17-year-olds are being vaccinated at the Cathedral Crypt centre with 69 walk-in vaccinations administered on Thursday.”

Covid-19 Vaccination boss for Lancashire and South Cumbria Jane Scattergood said: “The JCVI updated guidance on 4 August so that all 16 and 17-year-olds could be offered one dose of the vaccine, and anyone in this age group can now find their nearest centre through the ‘grab a jab’ NHS online walk-in finder, with more sites becoming available every day.

“The vaccination centre at Blackburn Cathedral Crypt is offering walk-in vaccination appointments for 16 and 17-year-olds, 8am to 8pm, seven days a week."