Question to the Department for Education:

To ask the Secretary of State for Education, what steps he is taking to increase levels of school-based covid-19 vaccination for children.

NHS England is delivering the vaccination programme for 12 to 15 year olds, and thousands of schools have already received visits from the School Age Immunisation Service teams to get consented children vaccinated. NHS England has additionally launched an out-of-school community offer for 12 to 15 year olds to get their vaccines via other routes, such as through vaccination centres. This is running in parallel to the in-school programme. Parents of children aged 12 to 15 years old have received a letter from the NHS with more information on the vaccination programme, including information about how to book an appointment out of school.

Additionally, the department has published new guidance for schools on the vaccination programme. This includes useful information and resources, including a template letter that can be used to communicate with parents. Please see the following for the published guidance provided to schools: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1cT6adcSVsLer0kvcSuI4QcBYdlmdgb5x.