NEARLY a quarter of teenagers across the conurbation have received two doses of the coronavirus vaccine, figures show.

The UK Government called for teenagers to get their second jab ahead of their return to school after the Christmas break, in an effort to tackle the Omicron wave.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recommended that 16 to 17-year-olds receive a second dose of the Covid jab in November – extending the advice to those aged 12 to 15 just before Christmas.

Figures from the UK coronavirus dashboard show 3,993 people aged 16 and 17 in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole had received two jabs by January 16 – at least 48 per cent of the age group.

READ MORE: BCP Covid court cases held in private with no pleas entered

READ MORE: Best friends and ballroom champion epic charity walk

A further 1,636 12 to 15-year-olds had received two doses of a Covid vaccine by that date, equating to nine per cent of the age group.

It means 5,629 under-18s in Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole are double-jabbed – which is nearly a quarter of the age group.

John Jolly, chief executive at charity Parentkind, said while measures such as face coverings in schools and vaccines for under 18s were “inevitably polarising” among parents, their research showed the majority wanted their child’s educational experience to return to some form of normality.

He said: “Clearly, a challenge to that will come in reconciling the divide in parents’ views of the best way to achieve this, particularly when it comes to the role of protective measures against the spread of Covid.

“However ministers make decisions on updating their guidance, they must keep in mind the impact on parents and on family life that their policies will have.”

NHS vaccination programme lead for 12 to 15-year-olds, Nick Hulme, said: “The booster has been proven to give substantial levels of protection against Covid-19 and the new Omicron variant, so it is vital that our youngest and most at-risk get their top-up dose of protection as soon as possible.

“I am delighted that we can kick off this stage of the rollout.

“As soon as you receive the invitation from your local NHS team or GP, please do take up the offer and bring your child forward for their all-important protection as soon as you can.”