Secondary school leaders have been told to expect multiple visits from the School Age Immunisation Service (SAIS) next year in a bid to roll out second doses of the Covid vaccine to pupils aged between 12 to 15.
In school, vaccination will begin from 10 January and the government aim for all schools to receive at least one visit before February half term, headteachers have been told.
An email sent to schools today from the Department for Education said: “We expect most schools to require multiple visits so vaccines can be administered to all consenting pupils.
“SAIS teams will be in touch with schools from the start of next term to discuss what is best for their circumstances.”
It comes after advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said young people aged 12 to 15 in England will be offered a second dose of the Covid-19 vaccine from 12 weeks after their first dose.
However less than half of 12- to 15-year-olds in England have received their first dose, according to government data. This comes after the vaccine rollout for this age group began in September.
NHS England has now confirmed that, as with first doses, healthy school-aged children aged 12 to 15 will be able to receive their Covid-19 vaccination in their school next term, as well as having the option to receive the vaccine out of school, such as through vaccination centres.
Vaccination for this group will continue to be deployed primarily by SAIS.
Tes has previously reported there are 46 local authorities where less than a third of secondary students had been vaccinated - including areas that have already seen some of the highest levels of educational disruption due to Covid.
Yesterday education secretary Nadhim Zahawi said the government does not have plans “at the moment” to vaccinate primary school-aged children.
He said vaccination experts were still reviewing the evidence on what level of protection a coronavirus jab would give those aged under 12, and that a decision would await their verdict.
It comes after The Sunday Times reported that healthcare staff have been told to start preparing for the mass vaccination of primary school children in anticipation of approval by regulators, with children as young as 5 to be jabbed.
