A PUBLIC health boss has urged the government to authorise coronavirus jabs for 12 to 15-year-olds swiftly after the UK’s chief medical officers recommended it.

They told health secretary Sajid Javid the move would help reduce disruption to education and slow the spread of Covid-19 this winter.

Professor Dominic Harrison, Blackburn with Darwen Council’s public health director, said: “I very much welcome this recommendation given by the UK Chief medical officers to vaccinate children between 12-15 years old and I expect that Ministers will accept this advice and act on it as soon as possible.

“The need to take this action was evident from June once the Medicines and Healthcare regulatory agency passed the Pfizer vaccine as safe and effective for this age group.

“I have been lobbying central government on this issue since June. The case for vaccinating children over 12 was as strong then as it is now. We have lost months.

“Vaccinating children aged 12 plus will have a particular benefit for Blackburn with Darwen as we have the eighth youngest population under 16 (at 23 per cent )in the UK.

’This will also be important for South Asian heritage communities across Lancashire who have 27 per cent of their communities under 18.

“Councils will now be working very hard with the NHS to get the programme up and running as soon as possible.”

His county council counterpart Dr Sakthi Karunanithi said: “I fully support this and believe it is good news for the children of Lancashire."

A government spokesman said: “We will set out the decision shortly.”