School unions want no role in vaccinations

Chief Medical Officer for England, Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, said he believes it is "well achievable" for first jabs to be delivered to 16 and 17-year-olds within a school term.

He said: "It is my confident expectation that this is well achievable within one term, but I think I would notwanttogoanyfurtherthanthat,without reference back to the deployment specialists who have honestly been thinking about this for weeks and weeks now."

Education unions say schools should not have any responsibilityforpromoting, enforcingorpolicingvaccination of pupils.

School leaders' union NAHT said UK policy on jabs for children should be led by clinicians.

Paul Whiteman, NAHT general secretary, said: "The

debate about whether or not to vaccinate older children has been raging for many weeks.NAHThasalwayssaid that UK policy on child vaccination should be led by clinicians. To the extent that any such policy is controversial it is clear that schools should not carry any responsibility for vaccination promotion, enforcementorpolicing."

He said Covid remains a worry for school leaders, given the large numbers of absences related to the virus last term.

A record 1.13million childreninEnglandwereout of school for Covid-19 related reasons towards the end of term.

Mr Whiteman said: "Pupils will return to schools next month, and the Government needs to take every possible step to prevent transmission of the virus amongst people in school communities, no matter their age."