KIDS as young as five are reportedly set to be given Covid jabs as the fight against the Omicron variant ramps up – with the NHS “preparing for a mass vaccine drive” in schools.
Trending In The News last month revealed leaked proposals show health bosses are preparing to vaccinate children aged between five and 11 next spring.
Now, healthcare officials have been told to prepare for a mass vaccination of primary school kids ready for approval by regulators.
According to secret plans, parental consent will be needed for kids aged five to 11 to get jabbed and the environment must be “age appropriate”, reports the Sunday Times.
Officials fear Covid will continue to rage until 2024 — making it necessary to immunise younger Brits.
Scientists have warned children were “key drivers” in adult transmissions during the summer.
But before the rollout can go ahead, UK regulators must still green light it for use in under-12s.
And experts on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation must also approve use in those aged five to 11.
With Omicron cases rising in the UK, people are being urged to get vaccinated and their booster jab.
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Read our Omicron live blog for the latest updates
Any two doses plus a Pfizer booster give up to 75 per cent protection, experts say.
Trending In The News’s Jabs Army helped administer millions of jabs this year – and now we are calling Brits to get their boosters.
Mary Ramsay, jabs chief at the UKHSA, said: “These early estimates show that, a few months after the second jab, there is a greater risk of catching Omicron compared to Delta.
“But the data suggests this risk is significantly reduced following a booster vaccine.
“We expect the vaccines to show higher protection against the serious complications of Covid-19.”
The US already began vaccinating kids as young as five back in November.
Pfizer is seeking agreement for use of its Covid jab in five to 11-year-olds from European regulators.
Approval is expected soon, which could lead to it being fast-tracked for use by the UK regulators.
Office for National Statistics data indicates most parents would be likely to accept a jab for their child.
