Children will not have to be vaccinated against Covid-19 to attend school, the Minister for Health has confirmed. Stephen Donnelly, speaking to RTÉ's Morning Ireland, said any suggestion that pupils would need the vaccine to go to school was "absolutely not on the cards and won't be on the cards".
It follows yesterday's announcement that the Covid-19 vaccination programme will be extended to all those aged 12 to 15. The minister said the National Immunisation Advisory Committee (NIAC) has given a "huge amount of consideration" to the issue.
Protection against serious illness is one of the key reasons for the use of vaccine in this age group, as well as the threat of long Covid.