Petition · past parliament
School aged children to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in 2021
Rejected
10 signatures
What the petition asks
I am asking the government to prioritise children
Education settings to return to ‘Normal'
Vaccinating everyone will help to reduce the transmission of Covid-19
Parents able to return to their working patterns
Children can travel abroad
Recreational activities return
Education settings to return to ‘Normal'
Vaccinating everyone will help to reduce the transmission of Covid-19
Parents able to return to their working patterns
Children can travel abroad
Recreational activities return
Covid-19 has been extremely hard for younger people
Lockdowns and closures of social activities has resulted in isolation from friends and family
Remote learning at home has been disruptive to their education This is ongoing as children are sent home from school due to infection or testing positive and isolating at home
Disruption to exams
Closure of recreational/ social activities
Ongoing exposure to covid and its effects are unknown
Transmission of infection in communities remains high
Lockdowns and closures of social activities has resulted in isolation from friends and family
Remote learning at home has been disruptive to their education This is ongoing as children are sent home from school due to infection or testing positive and isolating at home
Disruption to exams
Closure of recreational/ social activities
Ongoing exposure to covid and its effects are unknown
Transmission of infection in communities remains high
Why it was rejected
It asked for something that is not the responsibility of the UK Government or Parliament.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency is responsible for approving the safety of vaccines. At the moment, the covid-19 vaccines have only been approved for over 18s.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation have said that "there is very limited data on vaccination in adolescents, with no data on vaccination in younger children, at this time." You can find out more here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/priority-groups-for-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-advice-from-the-jcvi-30-december-2020/joint-committee-on-vaccination-and-immunisation-advice-on-priority-groups-for-covid-19-vaccination-30-december-2020
The Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisation (JCVI) has confirmed it has begun studying evidence on the safety of Covid-19 vaccines on children, stating:
"JCVI has started to consider evidence on the risk of serious disease in children, the role children may play in transmission, and the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in children. Following infection, almost all children will have asymptomatic infection or mild disease. There are limited data on vaccination in adolescents, with no data on vaccination in younger children at this time. As evidence becomes available it will be reviewed and advice offered as appropriate."
You can read the full statement here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/priority-groups-for-phase-2-of-the-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-programme-advice-from-the-jcvi/jcvi-interim-statement-on-phase-2-of-the-covid-19-vaccination-programme
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation have said that "there is very limited data on vaccination in adolescents, with no data on vaccination in younger children, at this time." You can find out more here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/priority-groups-for-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-advice-from-the-jcvi-30-december-2020/joint-committee-on-vaccination-and-immunisation-advice-on-priority-groups-for-covid-19-vaccination-30-december-2020
The Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisation (JCVI) has confirmed it has begun studying evidence on the safety of Covid-19 vaccines on children, stating:
"JCVI has started to consider evidence on the risk of serious disease in children, the role children may play in transmission, and the safety and efficacy of COVID-19 vaccines in children. Following infection, almost all children will have asymptomatic infection or mild disease. There are limited data on vaccination in adolescents, with no data on vaccination in younger children at this time. As evidence becomes available it will be reviewed and advice offered as appropriate."
You can read the full statement here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/priority-groups-for-phase-2-of-the-coronavirus-covid-19-vaccination-programme-advice-from-the-jcvi/jcvi-interim-statement-on-phase-2-of-the-covid-19-vaccination-programme
Timeline
| 13 Mar 2021 | Petition opened for signatures |
| 21 Apr 2021 | Rejected by the Petitions Committee |
Key facts
Signatures
10
Status
Rejected
Rejected
21 Apr 2021
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Source: the official petition page. Last checked 15 Jul 2026.