NHS trusts write to children urging them to have Covid jab
NHS trusts have been writing to children urging them to get the coronavirus jab, The Daily Telegraph can disclose.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation gave the green light for Covid vaccines to be offered to the under 12s in February. But ministers stressed at the time it was up to parents to decide if the risks outweigh the benefits.
Almost 400,000 five to 11-year-olds had at least one dose by May 20, according to NHS England figures. That represents around 8 per cent of the total cohort.
The Telegraph has seen a number of letters, which came in blank envelopes, but were addressed directly to children as young as six from one regional NHS team informing them about the vaccination. A brightly coloured letter covered in flowers, rainbows and bumblebees said the recipient could now book a vaccination and it provided a link to where they could do so.
It also contained an unmarked packet of sunflower seeds, “to help bring some joy and sunshine into children’s lives”, the letter read.
One parent of two children who received the invitation from South East London Integrated Care System said they felt uncomfortable with it being addressed to her young children directly and that it came in a blank envelope. The parent, who did not wish to be named but is from south-east London, said she and her husband were yet to discuss the vaccination with their children and felt the letter could force some “difficult” conversations for households.
Another mother, whose two daughters also received the letter despite already having had their first dose, said she “did not appreciate” the letters being addressed directly to her children, or the inclusion of the unmarked seed packet.
Molly Kingsley, from campaign group Usforthem, questioned how the seeds were a “reasonable use of public funds”. “It’s incredible to think that they would address letters to the kids,” she said.
“It crosses an unspeakable Rubicon. The first thing is that they’ve addressed it to the child and these children are under any kind of recognised age of consent.”
An email shared on Twitter by another parent in Eastbourne, East Sussex, was directly addressed to their fiveyear-old and invited them to book their jab. “Come and see our superheroes and princesses at the vaccination centre. Feel free to dress up!” the email read.
A spokesman for the NHS in south east London said: “Letters signpost to trustworthy information so that local families can make an informed decision on whether to have the vaccine.
“The communication is clearly aimed at families who are offered free confidential conversations with a healthcare professional and consent from a parent or carer is still required.”
‘It’s incredible to think that they would address letters to the kids. It crosses an unspeakable Rubicon’