Students aged between 12 and 15 will be able to book their Covid jabs at existing vaccination centres after concerns were raised over rollout delays.

Health secretary Sajid Javid told MPs that the national booking service will be opened up to younger teenagers to allow them to secure their Covid vaccinations outside of school, in an effort to “make the most of half-term” in terms of increasing the number of vaccinated children.

However, the NHS told Tes that children will not be allowed to access their jabs through walk-in centres, as they will be required to book their appointments in advance.

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Headteachers’ unions had called for vaccines to be offered to students in walk-in centres, as well as in schools, after figures revealed the scale of the low take-up of the Covid jab among the 12 to 15 age group.

When asked by Tes for clarification on today’s announcement, the NHS said that children will be able to access jabs outside of school - but they’ll need to make an appointment first.

Students able to book Covid vaccine jab outside school

An NHS spokesperson said: “It’s going to be bookings only. They won’t be able to walk in without a booking.”

He added that invitations will be sent out with consent leaflets.

Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said: “The key to bringing levels of Covid-19 infection back under control in our schools and colleges is clearly the vaccination programme for 12- to 15-year-olds, but it has not been happening fast enough.

“It was painfully slow to get underway in some areas and has been beset by logistical problems, not to mention being disrupted by the irresponsible actions of anti-vaccination protesters.”

The ASCL is also calling for funding from the government to allow schools to install high-quality ventilation systems to further reduce infection levels.

And the NAHT school leaders’ union is urging ministers to accelerate the delivery of carbon-dioxide monitors to schools, as well as change the rules so that siblings of children who have tested positive for Covid do not attend class.

“If the government does not act now, there is a clear and obvious risk that disruption to education will only get worse as we head into winter,” warned James Bowen, NAHT’s director of policy.

Some 3 million students aged between 12 and 15 across the UK are eligible to receive a first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine, as part of a rollout that began a month ago.

In England, jabs are being primarily carried out in schools by nurses and immunisation teams.

But on Tuesday, Mr Javid told MPs: “To make the most of half-term next week, we will now be opening up the national booking service to all 12- to 15-year-olds to have their Covid vaccinations in existing national vaccination centres, which will offer families more flexibility.

“I think it is important that anyone who is invited as eligible for a vaccine, including young people, that they do come forward and take up that offer.”