English Schoolchildren and Covid Vaccination

Six weeks ago, English schoolchildren, between the ages of 5 and 11 years, became eligible for vaccination with Sars-CoV-2 vaccines. Current uptake is a modest 7%. What accounts for this and should families be more strongly encouraged to take up the vaccine offer? (https://www.theguardian.com/world/2022/may/14/young-children-england-covid-jab-vaccine-rollout-7-per-cent-parents-usefulness). Covid19 vaccinations were approved for young schoolchildren on the grounds that they would a) reduce school disruption and b) might limit onward transmission of the virus to other folk. Many parents appear to have rejected vaccinating their children on the basis of a) assuming that Sars-CoV-2 infections pose little risk to young children and/or b) worries about the side-effects of vaccination. The risks associated with Covid19 infections are generally lower in 5-11 year olds, than in other age categories. This age group does, however, include some vulnerable individuals. There has, thus far, been a large regional variation in vaccine uptake by 5-11 year olds. Some authorities are especially worried about clinically vulnerable groups, in areas with the lowest vaccination rates of schoolchildren (like Merseyside). There is also the issue of Long Covid, that could blight young lives. Vaccination reduces the incidence of severe infections and may limit Long Covid (this is debatable). Concerns about vaccination side-effects in young children should be easily assuaged by US data. In that country, vaccination with the Pfizer/BioNTech preparation was approved for 5-11 year olds in November 2021. There has been a near absence of reported side-effects. Getting more 5-11 year olds vaccinated, may be a relatively risk-free means of protecting their educations. Experience with the Omicron variant shows, however, that vaccination currently offers only modest protection against viral transmission. It's a difficult call for parents!