Ministers are considering writing to every 12 to 15-year-old in the country to urge them to get their Covid vaccine.
The letter would be signed by Education Secretary Nadhim Zahawi in a bid to improve the slow jab rollout in schools.
So far only 19.8 per cent of that age group has been jabbed.
However, the move has sparked a row within Government over whether writing to children directly would be appropriate.
Whitehall officials have raised concerns that the move would risk undermining parental consent.
Since the rollout was extended to all 12- to 15-year-olds more than a month ago, MPs have warned that parents must be given a final say in whether their child should be vaccinated.
Schools normally send forms to parents seeking permission for pupils to receive a jab.
However, children also have a say and in some cases can override their parents, although the Government has insisted this would only apply ‘very rarely’.
It comes as analysis for The Mail on Sunday shows only a third of 12- to 15-year-olds will be jabbed by December if the rollout continues at the current pace.
