Whitty and Van-Tam say it is ‘inevitable’ that unvaccinated children will get Covid – video

Prof Chris Whitty, the chief medical officer for England, and Prof Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer, appeared before the Commons education committee over the decision to offer Covid vaccines to 12- to 15-year-olds, after the Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisation (JCVI) had said the benefits were too small.

Whitty told MPs said any time in school missed as a result of being inoculated should be balanced against the potentially longer period lost as a result of being infected.

• Chris Whitty warns MPs it is inevitable' unvaccinated children will catch Covid