KIDS as young as 12 will get Covid jabs from September in plans by the Government to stop a killer winter wave.
The leaked “core planning” scenario reveals children will be given a single dose when schools open.
The
NHS is also gearing up to offer booster vaccines against new variants
to all Brits over 50 as part of the autumn vaccination blitz.
Official
documents, seen by The Sun, reveal ministers are readying for a repeat
of last year’s bumper flu immunisation drive with half the country
eligible for a shot.
It will form a third line of protection against winter fatalities.
A source said: “Plans are in place to vaccinate children aged 12 upwards, and senior government officials have been briefed.
“Though controversial, it is deemed necessary to stop the UK regressing in its remarkable fight against Covid.”
Officials
are also preparing a “worst case scenario”, which would involve kids
aged just five getting immunised from as early as July.
The
classified vaccination report reveals the extra measures under
consideration if the summer lockdown opening leads to a spike in
variants.
Although youngsters are at much lower risk of falling ill from the virus, they can still spread it.
The Department of Health insisted no decisions had yet been made on vaccinating children.
It added: “We will be guided by experts once clinical trials have concluded.”