Anti-vaccination campaigners approach Wirral schoolkids

And further reports suggest that similar situations occurred outside other schools across the borough on Wednesday morning.

The 38-year-old, who doesn't wish to be named, was dropping her six-year-old son off at Black Horse Hill Infant School at approximately 8.50am when she noticed a group of woman who did not appear to be parents of pupils.

She told the Globe: "I came across at least four women approaching young children, some with and some without parents, this morning on the school run. They were outside my son's school and Hilbre High School.

"They were saying 'no to vaccine' and while not harassing any adults, they had young teenagers bailed up right outside the high school gates giving out leaflets. I reported it to Merseyside police.

"Fair enough, if they have their beliefs, but harassing children and handing out potentially misleading information is not on."

Leaflets were handing out to children outside a number of Wirral schools

A similar incident occurred outside the gates of St John Pleasington Catholic College in Bebington.

One mum said on Twitter: "Anti-vaxers hassling my daughters outside school this morning, that'll help with the severe anxiety one suffers with having some nutter jump in (her) face shouting.

"It's taken us a year to get her to go on the train & not be driven door to door. Cheers!"

She later told the Globe: "As students arrived this morning two anti-vax campaigners were handing out leaflets outside the main entrance. They told pupils they needed to take the leaflet. When my daughters tried to avoid them they stepped in front of them."

St John Pleasington Catholic College issued a letter from the headteacher to parents this afternoon.

It said: "I am writing to make you aware that this morning, like many schools across the country, we have had a small number of anti-vaccination campaigners outside of school distributing leaflets to our pupils.

"A number of pupils, parents and staff alerted us to this and expressed their concerns.

"As soon as we were made aware of this, staff were present to ensure our students were reassured.

"In terms of the vaccination programme, this is a national programme and not one that any school has control over.

"We will continue to keep you updated with any additional information that we receive."

The leaflet that was handed to schoolchildren this morning by campaigners

Elsewhere, it is understood that police were patrolling Frankby Road school gates this afternoon, but Merseyside Police told the Globe: "We are aware of reports but no offences have been identified at this stage."

Regarding the campaigners, the Globe contacted Hilbre High School, who declined to comment.

The NHS started to roll out the Covid-19 jab to school children aged 12-15 this week.

Almost three million children in this age group are eligible for one dose of the Pfizer vaccine following the government’s acceptance of the UK Chief Medical Officers’ recommendation.

Jabs have already started in hundreds of schools across the country with the NHS vaccination programme rolling out to others in the coming weeks.

Like the flu and HPV vaccines, Covid-19 jabs will be delivered by local School Age Immunisation Services (SAIS) who the NHS say will work closely with schools to identify all eligible children.

In line with standard practice for vaccinations in schools, consent letters are being sent out to parents and guardians with information on the Covid-19 vaccination.

Families do not need to contact the NHS to arrange their child’s vaccine, schools and providers will be in touch.