HUNDREDS of families in Oldham face continued anxiety over how to protect their children in high-risk groups from Covid.

Across England there are more than 56,100 children under 18 on the Shielded Patient List of extremely vulnerable people.

But none of the approved Covid vaccines have been tested for use on under 16s.

NHS Digital data shows that there are 455 children in Oldham on the Shielded Patient List.

Compiled using a clinical algorithm as well as GP referrals, it includes people who have been identified as being most at risk of complications from coronavirus.

Vulnerable children under 16 will not be offered the vaccine and it is unclear how they can be protected. The Government has said children and young people have a very low risk of contracting severe or deadly Covid-19 compared to adults, however there is an increased risk of exposure to infection and outbreaks in institutional settings.

The Green Book, which has the latest information on vaccines in the UK, states: “Vaccination may be considered for children with serious neuro-disabilities (including cerebral palsy, severe autism and Down’s syndrome) who spend regular time in specialised residential care settings for children with complex needs.

“As older children have higher risk of acquiring and becoming sick from infection and there are some safety data on the Pfizer BioNTech vaccine in children aged 12 years and older, vaccination of older children in these settings should be considered.”

The Department of Health and Social Care declined to respond to specific questions about the vaccination options for families of younger, clinically vulnerable patients.

Contact, a charity that supports families with disabled children, said it wanted greater clarity.

Una Summerson, the charity's head of policy, said: “We would welcome information on the approach the Government’s expert committee is taking to find an appropriate vaccine for children with long term and rare conditions.

"It might be that some of these children can’t have a vaccine and that’s why it’s so important that their parents are vaccinated as soon as possible.

"Vaccinating their parents will help protect clinically vulnerable children."