Children having their Covid vaccines should be enough to keep schools open in England, a health minister has said. 

Pleas were made to teachers and parents during a press conference last night to have vaccinations to ensure schools could remain open.

This morning a health minister has said children aged 12-15 getting their coronavirus vaccines should be enough to keep schools open.

Children getting jab should keep schools open

Gillian Keegan was asked on Sky News how concerned she was about more restrictions or closures of schools in January.

She replied: “That’s why we’ve introduced the second dose of vaccination for 12 to 15-year-olds, so we’re hoping all those that haven’t been vaccinated with their first dose come forward and those eligible for their second dose get those over the Christmas holiday period.

“Teachers get your boosters, that is going to be the best way that we’re going to make sure that we can keep everything going, really, whether it’s schools or restaurants or hospitality or you know, many, many things will be requiring people to be there, so that’s the best approach.”

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She added it was “fully the intention” to keep schools open.

Pleas to teachers to get jabbed

At last night’s press conference with prime minister Boris Johnson, appeals were made to teachers to get their booster jab.

The medical director of primary care for NHS England, Dr Nikki Kanani, has called for teachers to get their vaccines.

As Dr Kanani asked the public to get tested and get their booster, the medical director asked teachers to get their vaccines during the school holidays before the schools return next year.

New Covid restrictions for Christmas?

Ms Keegan said the Government was “not intending to make any more restrictions” between now and Christmas Day.

She said Boris Johnson “won’t hesitate” to recall Parliament if he needed to bring in extra measures.

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Ms Keegan said she recognised the promise to offer everyone a booster jab by the end of the year was a “very stretching target”.

But she told Sky News that she could guarantee the pledge.

Asked if she was confident it would be met, she said: “Yes, I think the one thing I’m confident about… is they can meet big targets, the infrastructure’s there, the logistics are there, obviously the Army’s coming in to help, masses of volunteers are coming in to help.”