Parents of children who are at risk of severe illness from Covid-19 and eligible for their autumn booster are being urged to get them vaccinated now.

According to the NHS in Sussex, less than one in five have received the jab so far, meaning thousands are unprotected.  

So far, 535,000 people in Sussex have received their autumn booster since the programme was launched in September.

Now, the NHS is offering the jab to children who are aged five and over and at high risk because of a health condition or weakened immune system, or if they live with someone who has a weakened immune system.

To date, only 237 of those aged five to 11 years old in Sussex and eligible for an autumn booster have had their vaccination.

Only 16 per cent of eligible 12 to 15 year olds have had their vaccine.

This means more than 3,000 children invited for their autumn booster are still unvaccinated.

A spokeswoman for the Sussex Covid-19 vaccination programme said: “We strongly urge parents of the thousands of children eligible for the autumn booster to get them protected as soon as possible – the vaccine remains the best protection against serious illness and hospitalisation from Covid-19 this winter for them and those they live with.”