Children aged 5 to 11 could receive Covid vaccines within weeks to stop school chaos
CHILDREN could receive Covid vaccines within WEEKS in a desperate bid to stop more school closure chaos.
Experts believe the introduction of jabs for children aged five to 11 could be key to halting the disruption to education caused by staff shortages.
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Professor Russell Viner believes that the “balance of risk” indicates that schoolchildren should be vaccinated.
His claims come after a series of hugely positive studies show Omicron is milder than other types, with the first official UK report showing the risk of hospital admission is 50 to 70 per cent lower than Delta.
Covid booster shots protect against Omicron and offer the best chance of weathering the pandemic, health officials have repeatedly said.
Sun's Jabs Army campaign is helping to get vital extra vaccines into Britons' arms to avert the need for new restrictions.
Prof. Viner, from University College London, is an expert in child and adolescent health and is a member of SAGE.
He believes that although the age group is least affected by the Covid disease, the spread of the virus to staff could be stopped if they were jabbed.
Speaking to the i he said: “Five to 11 year olds are probably the group least affected by Covid disease.
“The special thing about Covid is that it has the most special age risk profile. To be honest, five to eleven is the healthiest time of our lives.
“It's the time when we are least likely to die or get sick from anything, and that applies to Covid.
“However, I expect and would like the government to take into account the disruption to education and mental health issues in the decision, which has also happened to teenagers.
“I think it's a very marginal medical decision, but if you take into account those broader issues.
“I think given the extremely promising safety profile in children, but I think the balance of risks is toward vaccination.
“We can be quite confident that this really is a very safe vaccination for children aged five to 11.”
He said current data suggest that extremely rare side effects, such as heart inflammation, are much less common in primary school children than in older teenagers.
But he has warned it will not be easy to vaccinate the age group as more NHS staff are needed for the rollout to succeed.
Prof. Viner added: “Teenagers can cope with a needle in the arm, but younger children are much more likely to be in need.
“Vaccine centers will need “staff trained in dealing with children in need.
“There are a lot of complexities in vaccinating children that I'm sure the NHS is considering, but this won't be easy.”
Since returning to school earlier this week, headteachers have warned that areas with more cases could struggle to find enough teachers to fill the gaps caused by isolating staff.
Secondary school pupils will now have to wear face masks in class again as ministers desperately try to avoid another home-schooling fiasco.
Other worst-case proposals include teaching multiple classes in school halls – which is being criticized by teachers as not being a 'long-term solution'.
'CHALLENGING'
Education Minister Nadhim Zahawi has admitted that face masks in schools make things “more challenging” for students and teachers.
He stressed that he would do everything possible to keep schools open, but could not rule out closing them completely if deemed necessary.
Although self-isolation rules have changed, teachers may be able to stay at home for ten days after testing positive.
It means parents could find themselves caught up in last year's chaos, with students and teachers repeatedly being sent home unnecessarily.
Many may have to return to homeschooling or rush to find childcare at the last minute.
Pressure is also increasing on the Prime Minister to shorten the self-isolation period from seven to five days.
A senior World Health Organization official claimed it was “recommended” not to adjust coronavirus response strategies based on “early” Omicron data.
But Boris is facing increasing pressure to shorten the period in which schools and other workforces can return to normal.
The government has said “no further changes” are planned to shorten quarantine periods, but insisted the rules would be kept “under scrutiny”.