A scientist advising the Government has warned about the level of coronavirus circulating among secondary school pupils as he suggested greater access to vaccine centres may be needed.
Professor Calum Semple, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said there is a risk children in that age group could reach herd immunity through infection rather than vaccination.
He told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme: “There is a risk of that and it’s not a good way to get to herd immunity.
“Commentators would usually say it’s ridiculous to aim for herd immunity using natural wild-type infection because that brings with it disease and damage to children both from acute disease and potentially long Covid.”
Asked whether parents in England should have a greater ability to take children to vaccination centres, he said: “I do think some flexibility would be great, I’m sure there’s people thinking about it but also thinking about the practicalities of having large numbers of children inside the vaccinations centres.”
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