Intimidation of school pupils blamed on poor take-up of jabs in Greenwich
By Kiro Evans, local democracy reporter
Anti-vax ‘intimidation’ has been blamed for low vaccine uptake among pupils in Greenwich.
Councillors voiced their concern over the low numbers of Covid jabs given to youngsters in the borough.
Only 35.95 per cent of 12 to 15 year olds had had their first jab as of January 10.
A senior councillor believed the anti-vaxxer movement was playing its part.
Conservative councillor Pat Greenwell questioned the cabinet on the issue during last night’s council meeting.
Cllr Greenwell said: “It’s very, very disturbing isn’t it? That 12 to 15 year-olds was at 35.95 per cent [of Covid vaccine first dose uptake].
“I just wondered what schools themselves are doing to get the message across to this very vulnerable age group?”
Councillor Linda Perks said she thought schools were doing all they could.
She said: “But they are working in very difficult circumstances as they need to get permission from parents before the child can be vaccinated. So it’s a complicated administrative procedure.
“They also are still under pressure from anti-vax campaigners who are writing directly to schools to intimidate them.
“[Teaching staff] are not in the position or allowed by law, as I understand it, to be able to drive this out and encourage children to do it [get the vaccine].
“It’s very much about making it possible to happen, working with Oxleas [NHS Trust] to enable it to happen smoothly.
“Parents are invited to sign [a form] to say ‘yes, I’d like my children to get vaccinated.’ So it’s not straightforward.”
She added that council officers were working with schools and GPs to encourage children and parents to get vaccinated and publicising the sites where they can get the jab.
The Pfizer dose has been available to 12 to 15 year olds since September 20 last year.
In November it was reported that a million jabs had been handed out to the age group in England.
Cllr Perks’ warnings come following reports of children being targeted by anti-vax groups at their school gates in the capital.
One dad was left frustrated in October last year as he claimed his children were handed anti-vax leaflets in Muswell Hill, North London.
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