Over a third of 12- to 15-year-old students in England are still unvaccinated for Covid-19, according to data released today.
The latest figures from the Office of National Statistics show that, as of 22 July this year, just 62.4 per cent of students aged 12 to 15 had received at least one dose of the Covid vaccine, and under half (45.3 per cent) had received two or more.
Vaccination rates in the 16- to 17-year-old age range were higher, numbering 80.5 per cent having received at least one dose and 69.8 per cent with two or more.
The research also shows that students eligible for free school meals had much lower vaccination coverage than those not eligible.
Indeed, 44.3 per cent of students eligible for free school meals had received at least one dose, compared with 68.8 per cent of students who weren’t eligible.
Total vaccine coverage was also lower in schools with a higher proportion of students eligible for free school meals, the data reveals.
The ONS found that parental vaccination status had the biggest impact on vaccine uptake.
More than four in five (81.6 per cent) of students in households where at least one parent had received three or more doses of the Covid-19 vaccine had received at least one dose of the vaccine.
This compares with 30.5 per cent of students where at least one parent has received two doses, but no parent had received three.
Additional findings from the body show that on the week ending 14 September, the percentage of secondary school-aged students testing positive for the coronavirus has increased to 1.3 per cent.
For all other age groups, the trend was uncertain in the most recent week.
Covid vaccinations for 12- to 15-year-olds were approved by the UK’s chief medical officers in September last year.
In October last year, then education secretary Nadhim Zahawi stressed the importance of pupil vaccinations as cases soared, forcing 200,000 pupil absences through the first week of the month.
The Department for Education has been approached for comment.
