Covid-19 vaccination rates among children in England vary substantially between certain ethnic groups, according to Office for National Statistics (ONS) data. Equivalent figures are not available for the rest of the UK.
ONS researchers analysed vaccination rates among children aged 12 to 15 who attend state-funded schools in England. , 62.4 per cent had received at least one dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech covid-19 vaccine, . Only 45.3 per cent of the 12 to 15-year-olds had received at least two doses, the maximum number being offered to children in this age group.
Uptake was lowest among those from Gypsy or Roma ethnic groups, with 15.8 per cent receiving at least one dose. This was followed by children from Black Caribbean ethnic groups, at 16.5 per cent.
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, at 83.5 per cent and 75.7 per cent, respectively. This is followed by white British 12-to-15 year olds, at 69.3 per cent.
In England, all children aged 12 to 15 have been offered two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine via a school immunisation programme. Childhood vaccinations typically require permission from a parent or guardian. If this hasn鈥檛 been granted and a child wishes to be vaccinated against covid-19, via Gillick competence, an assessment into whether a child is mature enough to consent to a treatment.
ethnic group when it comes to receiving a coronavirus vaccine. , which is linked to a lack of trust in officials, scientists and health professionals.
The ONS figures also reveal that children from more deprived areas, defined according to their school address, are less likely to be vaccinated than those from more well-off areas. Up to 22 July, 44.8 per cent of 12 to 15-year-olds from the most deprived areas had received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine, compared with 80.7 per cent of those from the least deprived areas.
鈥淚n terms of the inequalities, it鈥檚 not really surprising that people in deprived areas and ethnic minorities are getting less care than others,鈥� says at King鈥檚 College London. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 been the history of health.鈥�
Vaccination rates among children aged 5 to 11 also vary among different ethnicities. ONS figures aren鈥檛 available for this age group, covid-19 vaccination rates in this age bracket in England peak in children with a South Asian background, with 12 per cent receiving at least one dose by 10 August. This is followed by white children at 11.2 per cent.
According to at the University of Leeds, UK, not enough is being done to encourage covid-19 vaccinations among children. 鈥淭he vaccine is safe,鈥� he says. 鈥淭hey protect against severe disease and they also protect to an extent against long covid.鈥�
By not taking childhood vaccinations seriously, Griffin worries that the UK government is sending the message that it is fine for children to catch the coronavirus multiple times.
The risk of severe disease with covid-19 is far lower in children than adults, but if large numbers of children catch the virus this winter, a substantial proportion will develop severe symptoms, according to Griffin.
The coronavirus is evolving and the next variant could be more dangerous for children, says Griffin. 鈥淚t鈥檚 not about the virus we鈥檙e experiencing now, it鈥檚 about the virus we may experience in the future,鈥� he says. Receiving some protection against symptomatic disease caused by the omicron variant.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson told 快猫短视频: 鈥淲e have provided advice and information on covid vaccines to parents at every opportunity, including through TV, radio, social media and letters from schools, translated into 13 languages.
鈥� to increase protection as we live with this virus.鈥�
