‘So much damage’ – Sajid Javid takes aim at ‘idiot anti-vaxxers spreading lies’

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The Health Secretary indicated exclusion zones could be used to protect children and stop staff being harassed. He said it was “heartbreaking” that three children had been hurt during one protest after Covid vaccines were opened up to those aged 12 to 15. Mr Javid added: “These people are doing so much damage. You have three children that are injured, actually physically injured, and that’s heartbreaking to see.”

He went on: “And you’ve got, frankly, these idiots outside their school spreading vicious lies. It is becoming a growing problem as time goes by.

“There are options, in terms of whether it’s an exclusion zone, or other potential action.

“I think it’s got to be done at a local level.

“If you’ve injured children, that is a criminal act and I hope in that case police are able to track those people down.”

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Home Secretary Priti Patel said it is “completely unacceptable” for children, teachers or parents to be “intimidated and harassed” at the school gate.

Downing Street said it was “never acceptable for anyone to pressurise or intimidate pupils, teachers or the wider school community”.

The Prime Minister’s official spokesman said last night: “Protesters engaging in this type of behaviour should immediately stop.”

Most schools have been targeted by anti-vaxxers according to research by unions.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer called for laws to be updated to ban the protests.

He said: “It is sickening that anti-vax protesters are spreading dangerous misinformation to children in protests outside of schools.”

The Party wants public spaces protection orders – previously used to move on protesters outside abortion clinics – to be updated so councils can rapidly create exclusion zones for antivaccination protests outside schools.

Paul Whiteman, general secretary of school leaders’ union NAHT, said: “We would urge anti-vaccination campaigners to behave more responsibly and to carefully consider the impact that their actions are having on children.”

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