NHS England’s medical director of primary care has urged teachers to come forward for their booster jabs during the Christmas holidays.
Dr Nikki Kanani, Britain’s most senior GP, said in a Downing Street press conference this evening (Wednesday 15 December): “We are asking teachers to come forward during the school holidays to get protected before school starts again.”
Dr Kanani also urged people to “be patient” with the NHS during the Covid-19 booster drive, “and with your general practice teams, because they are trying to do everything to protect you as quickly as possible”.
During the press conference, prime minister Boris Johnson also said that, from next week, 12- to 15-year-olds will be able to book in for their second Covid vaccine.
He said: “We know how crucial it is to keep children in schools so let’s all make sure our children and young people are vaccinated before they go back next term.”
Earlier today, Downing Street had urged parents to continue sending their children to school this week amid concerns over the Omicron variant.
The prime minister’s official spokesperson said it was “important” that schools and parents “don’t take precautionary steps to deprive their children of education”.
This followed a message to secondary school leaders earlier in the week 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 and 15.
In-school vaccinations will start from 10 January and the government aims for all schools to receive at least one visit before February half term, headteachers have been told.
An email sent to schools 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.”
