A FORMER Dragons' Den star has been slammed after posting a disgraceful tweet saying Chris Whitty "will hang" for recommending Covid jabs for children.

       Rachel Elnaugh, 56, sparked fury on social media after England's Chief Medical Officer backed vaccinations for kids as young as 12.

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       Ex Dragons' Den star Rachel Elnaugh said Chris Whitty 'will hang' for recommending jabs for children as young as 12 Credit: BBC

       She called the decision "child abuse" as she responded to a post made by Good Morning Britain.

       Producers on the show had asked viewers if they were happy for their children to be given the jab.

       Ex Dragon Elnaugh replied on her verified account: "Child abuse. Whitty will hang for this."

       And her post - which remains on the website - caused a huge backlash.

       Elnaugh, who founded the UK gift company Red Letter Days, is herself a mum-of-five. She was a Dragon in the first two series of the show.

       Many have hit out at her comment, posted just months after Professor Whitty was assaulted by anti-vaxxers in the street.

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       One said: "What the former 'Dragon' Rachel Elnaugh tweeted here is vile, disgraceful and seemingly inciting violence against a Government official."

       Another wrote: "What a hateful thing to say!

       "Not just because it diminishes the experiences of people actually abused as children, but for inciting violence against Whitty."

       And a third told her: "Whatever your views are, and however ill thought through they are, there is absolutely no need for this inciting of violence towards someone doing their job.

       "You should be ashamed of yourself. Reported."

       Others called her views "appalling" and "revolting".

       Prof Whitty and his colleagues recommended the Government roll out jabs to youngsters aged between 12 and 15.

       They hope it will reduce disruption to education.

       'HATEFUL AND APPALLING'

       Ministers say the final decision will be left to individual parents.

       The first in the age group will be vaccinated by September 22.

       All healthy youngsters will be offered a single dose of Pfizer.

       However, the decision has been criticised by some as children are at such low risk of becoming severely ill if they contract Covid.

       There are also concerns about rare complication myocarditis - an inflammation of the heart.

       Prof Whitty admitted the decision had been a "difficult one" - but said it could be an "important and useful tool" to make sure schools don't have to close again.

       In June, the expert was assaulted in a Westminster park. Lewis Hughes, 24 and of Romford in Essex, later admitted assault by beating and was sentenced to eight weeks in prison, suspended for two years.

       ROW WITH NICKI MINAJ

       It's the fourth reported incident of harassment against Prof Whitty.

       Meanwhile, the medic has been dragged into a bizarre spat with rapper Nicki Minaj today.

       The row began after he called her spurious claims about the vaccine "ridiculous" and "strange".

       Nicki told her 22.6m followers that a friend of her cousin's got the jab and his "testicles became swollen" - so she would wait for more information before getting the vaccine herself.

       Prof Whitty responded that it's "untrue" - before Nicki posted of the expert: "I love him even tho I guess this was a diss?

       "The accent ugh! Yassss boo!!!"

       She later went on to hit out at Boris Johnson and Piers Morgan, before labelling Laura Kuenssberg a "dumbo" who "can't read".

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       Prof Whitty admitted the decision wasn't a straight-forward one - but chief medical officers hope it will end disruption to education Credit: PA 3

       Meanwhile, he's become embroiled in a surreal row with rapper Nicki Minaj over the jab Credit: PA

       Chris Whitty blasts 'ridiculous' Nicki Minaj and 'strange' anti-vaxxers for peddling Covid myths

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