Teaching unions have also called for the vaccination of children, and on Monday Prof Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer, suggested they may need to be vaccinated to ensure that their education can continue without disruption.
Asked whether Covid jabs would be rolled out to children, Prof Whitty told a Downing Street news conference that the “wider question” was about whether this would help limit the disruption the virus was causing to their schooling.
Boris Johnson also suggested the decision to keep restrictions in place until July 19 was partly timed to coincide with the start of the school holidays, as the spread of the virus among young people will reduce.
In the US, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended that all children aged over 12 should get a Covid vaccination in May. Israel which achieved the fastest rollout to adults globally has just begun vaccinating those aged 12 to 15.
Both countries have been able to largely relax Covid rules, which will increase pressure on the UK Government to follow suit in vaccinating children.
The Pfizer vaccine has been deemed safe for those aged 12-15 by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), so ministers could ignore the JCVI’s advice.
A senior government source said: “The Pfizer vaccine has been licensed for 12 to 15-year-olds by the MHRA, and a number of countries will be vaccinating children in those age groups. Ministers have not received advice, and no decisions have been taken.”
On Tuesday, France opened up vaccinations to children aged 12 and over in a bid to ward off a rise in infections as it lifts restrictions.
The UK has the highest take-up of vaccines globally, with 30 million people including almost all over 50s now double-jabbed. Later this week the programme will open up bookings to everyone over 18.
However, there is concern from some scientists that the high transmissibility of the Indian or delta Covid variant means the spread of the virus cannot be checked without a still wider rollout of vaccinations.
