Children as young as 12 are set to be offered the Pfizer Covid vaccine from the new school year if plans go ahead, sources claim.
Health officials are drawing up plans to offer the jab to students 12 and over from the autumn term, writes The Times.
The plans, reportedly confirmed by sources within the Government and the NHS, said it depends on advice given this summer from scientists if the plans go ahead.
Officials are preparing for rollout in schools once they receive information from boffins on the joint committee on vaccination and immunisation.
A source said: “No decision has been made yet but we are drawing up planning materials for the different scenarios.”
The decision will depend on the rates of the virus over the next few months, Professor Adam Finn who sits on the committee told the paper.
A recent model predicts a third Covid wave will unleash after restrictions are lifted on June 21, and the UK opens up fully again.
If rates soar it would be a priority to vaccinate children in a bid to prevent schools from closing again next year.
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Although Prof Finn added if rates dropped to a low level before the school year then a child vaccination programme may be unnecessary.
Matt Hancock announced the order of 60million doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech jab on top of the 40m already purchased.
The health secretary said they will be used for a third booster vaccine for those most at risk.
It's believed the new Pfizer batch is the most likely one used for children as the manufacturer is the only one so far to produce trial data for under-16s, according to sources.
Oxford-AstraZeneca began trials among children in February, but they were halted over concerns about blood clots.
The Moderna jab, which the UK has bought 17m doses, has been tested in younger children but trial data results are not yet available.
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More than 34million people have now received their first dose of the Covid jab and 14m have been given their second.
More than 95% of the over-75s have had one and 38% of Brits aged between 40 and 44 have had their first dose.
Finn added the need to give the Covid jab to children would depend on enthusiasm for the vaccine, especially those aged in their 20s and 30s.
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