Children fuel English COVID case rise after slow vaccine start - Reuters

LONDON, Oct 19 (Reuters) - The spread of COVID-19 among children in England is fuelling a rise in cases nationally and causing concern among some scientists that vaccines are being rolled out in schools too slowly, risking the welfare of children and adults alike.

Vaccination rates for the age group in England are lagging those in many European countries and even Scotland, which some scientists have attributed to mixed messaging around shots for children, a later start and inflexibility with the rollout.

Last month, Britain's chief medical officers recommended that children aged 12 to 15 should be offered a COVID-19 vaccine to help reduce disruption to their education.

As children and teachers miss school time with COVID, some believe the rollout started too late.

The health service set a target of offering all children vaccination shots by the school half-term break, which starts next week.

However, the rollout in England has been done through schools, meaning the offer of a vaccine isn't being made available to all eligible children at the same time.

In Scotland, by contrast, where 46.5% of 12- to 15-year-olds have had a COVID shot, walk-in vaccination facilities are available, meaning children are not reliant on schools to get access to shots.