Ministers were under increasing pressure last night to increase the uptake of Covid jabs for schoolchildren following an increase in infections in classrooms.
Cases among under-18s are ‘higher than ever’, according to the respected Zoe Covid Study – raising fears they could pass it to high-risk older relatives.
Since the NHS’s rollout in schools, only 20.7 per cent have been vaccinated among children between 12 and 15 years old in England.
Ministers had hoped that all pupils would be vaccinated by the half-term.
Teaching unions described their ‘extreme frustration’ with the slow pace of the programme, which they said had been plagued with problems.
Cases among under-18s are ‘higher than ever’ and just 20.7 per cent of those aged 12 to 15 in England have been vaccinated since the NHS started its rollout in schools (stock image)
Teachers have complained of too few vaccinators to meet demand and teams turning up without enough doses, while ‘inconsistent messaging’ from Government advisers has fuelled a degree of hesitancy among parents.
Last week, ministers opened online booking systems for 12-15-year-olds. Parents can now take their children to vaccination centres. However, not all clinics are able to accommodate children.
Geoff Barton, of the Association of School and College Leaders, said Covid ‘continues to cause havoc to the education of children’.
He added: ‘It is extremely frustrating that the vaccination programme has been beset by logistical problems and unforeseen delays, and ultimately fell well short of its original target.
‘It was incredibly remiss of the Government not to have ensured there was sufficient capacity in place to deliver this vital programme at the scale and speed required.
‘We cling to the hope that allowing young people to book their jab at vaccination centres during half term will help boost the numbers who are vaccinated. But there will still be much to do when schools return.’
Paul Whiteman of the National Association of Head Teachers stated that some children missed their chance of a jab due to having caught Covid.
Letters will be sent to 2.5million children in England eligible to receive the vaccine, inviting parents to book a jab through the national booking service as Health Secretary Sajid Javid (pictured) said vaccines are available to young people through a ‘tried and tested programme’
He added that uptake of the vaccine may never be as high among children as the wider population, and called for additional measures such as improved ventilation and ‘reconsidering’ current guidance on close contact isolation. ‘We also need a track and trace system that is working effectively,’ he said.
The Scottish 12-15-year-old population is twice as likely to be enrolled than the English at 52.7 percent.
More than 80,000 children aged 12 to 15 had been booked-in online to receive their Covid jab in England as of yesterday morning – just 3.2 per cent of the 2.5million eligible to receive it.
These letters will land on the doorsteps for these 2.5 million this week, inviting parents and guardians to book a visit through the national booking system.
Dr Bharat Pankhania, clinical lecturer in public heath at the University of Exeter Medical School, said the programme had been poorly organised, adding: ‘There are simply not enough staff to cope with the demands placed upon them.’
Health Secretary Sajid Javid said: ‘The vaccines are available to young people through a tried and tested school immunisation programme and parents or guardians can book a jab at local vaccination sites.’