NHS England funding made available to schools to support the in-school 12-15 year old vaccinations

In recognition of the ongoing work undertaken by SAIS teams and schools for the children aged 12-15 years old COVID-19 Vaccination Programme, NHS England is making £8 million of national funding available to schools to help them support SAIS teams, and other contractors who deliver the in-school programme with the COVID-19 Vaccination Programme.

Feedback from systems shows that the programme is most successful when SAIS teams and schools work together. The second phase of the vaccinations for 12–15-year-olds not only gives an opportunity for children to receive a 2nd dose but also ensures that those who have not yet received a 1st dose can do so. This will help to protect children against the Omicron variant and to ensure that there is limited disruption to their education.

While the accountability of delivering the COVID-19 vaccination programme is with the NHS and SAIS teams in this instance, and not schools, this second phase will require schools to put in place operational and administrative processes to support the programme.

Further information on the funding arrangements and how funding should be utilised, with specific examples of support schools can provide can be found in the attached Questions & Answers document.