Uptake of Covid-19 vaccine among children aged 12-15 in Bucks revealed

The figures have been compiled from data published on the Government’s coronavirus dashboard and show the estimated cumulative take-up of first doses of the vaccine among 12 to 15-year-olds in England and Scotland by upper tier local authority, as of October 16.

READ MORE: Former RGS High Wycombe pupil to face trial accused of being ISIS member after Heathrow arrest

Jabs are currently being carried out in schools by nurses and immunisation teams with 22.8% of 12-15 year olds in Buckinghamshire having their first jab.

This comes after last week, a number of schools in the county were targeted by anti-vaxxers as school pupils begin to get vaccinated.

The police were called to Sir William Borlase after anti-vaxxers were seen "harassing" children and "arguing" with teachers.

It was also reported that anti-vaxxers allegedly took photos of pupils they were leafleting at The Beaconsfield School whilst directing them to a streaming service that played a song warning them not to get the coronavirus vaccine.

Pupils leaving Amersham School were too targeted with leaflets questioning the jab, sparking a furious debate on social media.

Mrs Sharon Jarrett, Amersham School headteacher said: “We trust our students and parents to make up their minds with regard to having the vaccination or not.

"No child should feel harassed when either coming to school or leaving school – in my opinion.

“I am a great believer in people making informed choices about all aspects of life, including whether or not to be vaccinated against Covid-19.

“However, I maintain that it is not appropriate to target children as they leave school, when their parents are not present to support them or to discuss the information being shared.

"I had a number of distressed students and subsequently distressed parents.

“In my opinion, I do not feel that the handing out of anti-vax leaflets to children, the day before their scheduled jab, is a sensible or kind thing to do. I trust my children and their parents in making an informed choice.”

In England, Wokingham in Berkshire has the highest take-up with 36.2% followed by Derbyshire, Hertfordshire and Warrington, all with 29.1% take-up.

Barking and Dagenham has the lowest take-up with only 3.5% of young teenagers having the jab followed by Newham and Lewisham, both on 5.2%, all of which are in London.

School leaders’ unions are concerned that 12- to 15-year-olds in England are missing out on getting the Covid-19 vaccination in school due to a high level of cases amongst the cohort, as well as logistical problems with vaccination teams having insufficient staff to deal with students needing jabs.

But reports suggest that children under 16 in England could soon be offered jabs at vaccine centres due to delays with the vaccine rollout.