All 16 and 17-year-olds throughout England will be given the chance to get a Covid vaccine by next Monday.
Hitting that deadline will give them the chance to have optimum first jab protection before starting school in September
Health Secretary Sajid Javid has speeded up their vaccinations in a frantic bid to avoid a rise in cases in the autumn term.
He said: “It is brilliant to see tens of thousands of young people have already had their vaccine. This will ensure everyone has the chance to get vital protection before returning to college or sixth form.”
But the push comes as Independent Sage scientists warn 2,000 children could “easily” be in Covid wards by the end of the autumn term unless all 12 to 15-year-olds are jabbed quickly too.
Prof Christina Pagel criticised the Government, blasting: “We removed masks, we’ve removed bubbles, we’ve removed contact tracing, we’ve removed social distancing, we are not vaccinating children.”
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Even one AstraZeneca jab will give youngsters 64% protection against the virus after two weeks – and 250,000 under-18s have already had a first dose.
To speed take-up, NHS England has launched a new online local walk-in site-finder for teenagers while 100,000 texts are going out to them. Also, 800 GP-led local vaccination sites will be sending out texts and letters inviting them to book a jab.
Health officials estimate vaccines have already saved 84,600 lives and prevented 23.4 million infections and 66,900 hospitalisations in England. Teenagers within three months of turning 18 can book appointments online through the National Booking Service or by calling 119.
Vaccines Minister Nadhim Zahawi said: “Young people have shown great enthusiasm to get vaccines. This has allowed us to safely enjoy things we have missed.”
Polling shows only a tenth of 16 and 17-year-olds are reluctant to get vaccinated.
Public Health England says the Pfizer vaccine is 96% effective at stopping serious illness and hospitalisation and the AstraZeneca 92% effective after two doses.
More than 40 million people have now had two injections but pupils will be back at school before they can have a second.
Now only clinically vulnerable children aged 12 to 15 – and those living with high-risk people – can get the jab before the new term
Some countries, including the US, Canada and France, are routinely vaccinating over-12s.
In Ireland more than 50,000 people aged 12 to 15 have signed up to get jabbed.
Prof Pagel told a briefing up to 15 children a day are being admitted to hospital.
She said: “They have had the same levels of admission we had in the January peak. This peak isn’t over.
“We have already had 2,000 since May. We could easily have that again next term.”
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