The Guardian Weekly

Vaccinations cleared for rollout to 12- to 15-year-olds

Children aged 12 to 15 can be offered Covid vaccinations, the UK’s four chief medical officers have decided, saying the likely impact in reducing disruption to schools 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. 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 Sajid Javid, the health secretary, will be a relief to ministers, who had watched with visible impatience as a series of other countries started to vaccinate older children. 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.

Global Report

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2021-09-17T07:00:00.0000000Z

2021-09-17T07:00:00.0000000Z

https://theguardianweekly.pressreader.com/article/281818581958536

Guardian/Observer