Parents and carers in England will be able to arrange appointments for children in this age group by using the NHS vaccines website or by calling 119 from 7am.

Hundreds of sites will offer vaccinations from Monday, with more joining the programme later in the week.

Dr Nikki Kanani, deputy lead for the NHS vaccination programme, said the vaccines still "remain the best defence" against coronavirus.

She said: "My 13-year-old son has had his two vaccinations and I'll be booking my 10-year old daughter in for hers at the earliest opportunity.

"I would encourage all parents to read the NHS information available and consider doing the same."

Candice, 32, from Nottingham, has three children between the ages of one and 10 and said she would vaccinate them "if it's going to protect them".

"We live in a country where we can get it for free. Why not do it?"

But some people have said that they have learned to "live with" the virus and see no point in vaccinating their children now.

Like Angela, 30, said her five-year-old daughter has been "going to school the whole time" and has been fine.

She said: "It's too soon.

"I don't think it's necessary.

"If there was more research around it then possibly, but I don't think it's needed for her age group."

Professor Steve Turner, from The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health, said: "This vaccine promises to be very safe, it promises to be very effective.

"We know this because other countries have been using it in their young children as well."

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The expansion of the vaccination programme comes as parents of young long COVID sufferers travelled to Downing Street to ask the government for more support.

Scott McFarland's wife and daughter both have long COVID, and he said the impact on their lives has been immense.

He said his daughter used to have a very active life filled with social activities, but now she struggles to attend a full day at school, and is "constantly in pain and tired".

"If we had the option to have our daughter vaccinated before and it would have prevented her condition now, then yes, we would have taken the decision."