The Joint Committee on Vaccine and Immunisation (JCVI) has already announced it is widening the limited rollout to the most at-risk children in this age bracket who have underlying health conditions.
Coronavirus vaccines for healthy children aged between 12 and 15 are not being recommended by the UK’s vaccine advisory body – but the country’s four chief medical officers are to review the matter further before a final decision is made.
The assessment provided by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is that the COVID jab should not be recommended to those in this age group on health grounds alone, but the body has advised the government to look at “wider issues” including the impact of the virus on schooling.
The UK’s four chief medical officers will provide further advice on the vaccination of young people in this age group following the assessment provided by the JCVI on Friday, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said.
The independent medicines regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), has approved the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines for those aged 12 and over after they met strict standards of safety and effectiveness.
The JCVI has announced it is widening the limited rollout to the most at-risk children in this age bracket who have underlying health conditions – including chronic major heart, lung, kidney, liver and neurological conditions.
But coronavirus presents a very low risk for healthy children, and on Friday, the JCVI said it has determined the benefit of vaccinating them is only marginal in terms of their health