UK CHILDREN AGED 12-15 CAN GET COVID VACCINE -CHIEF MEDICAL OFFICERS

Mon 13 September 2021:

The UK’s chief medical officers have ruled that children in the UK between the ages of 12 and 15 should be able to get vaccinated against Covid-19.

The decision was made by the UK’s four chief medical officers, who said the likely impact on reducing school disruption meant such a plan could be clinically justified.

All children in the age group will be offered a first Pfizer jab as soon as possible, with the programme led by in-school vaccination services. A second injection will be potentially given once more evidence is gathered, so not before the spring term at the earliest.

The announcement, made in a letter to Health Secretary Sajid Javid.

The programme in the UK has so far been limited to children with health problems, with the government’s vaccines watchdog ruling earlier this month that while the health gains from vaccinating the entire age group were greater than the risks, “the margin of benefit is considered too small” to support it.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) advised that the UK’s four chief medical officers examine the issue further, taking into account wider factors outside the JCVI’s remit, such as the possible impact of vaccinations in minimising school disruption.

The JCVI has already approved an expansion to an existing programme of vaccinations for older children with health conditions, increasing the eligible cohort to about 200,000.

The letter said: “If ministers accept this advice, UK CMOs would want the JCVI to give a view on whether, and what, second doses to give to children and young people aged 12-15 once more data on second doses in this age group has accrued internationally. This will not be before the spring term.”

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