Final decision on vaccines for children aged 12-15 expected within days in UK

Final decision on vaccines for children aged 12-15 expected within days in UK
September 4, 2021, 4:14 am

Covid-chilldren

The BBC reported according to a source that as UK ministers await key advice from the UK's chief medical officers, the government believes there is a "strong case" for vaccinating healthy children aged 12-15.

According to the BBC, the four scientific advisers are due to make a decision within days.

On Friday, JCVI scientists decided against recommending the measure, saying that offering the jab to pupils provided only "marginal" gains.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation said on Friday that children were at such a low risk from the virus that jabs would offer only a marginal benefit.

It comes as millions of pupils have returned to school for the autumn term.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has asked the chief medical officers - covering the four nations of the UK - to consider the rollout of the vaccine to 12 to 15-year-olds "from a broader perspective".

This means the rate of transmission will be a key consideration for the four chief medical officers, as will the wider impact on schools and society.

A government source told the BBC: "We believe there is strong case to vaccinate but await the advice of the chief medical officers."

BBC health correspondent Nick Triggle said: "Ministers have let it be known they are very keen on getting this age group vaccinated - both through their public pronouncements and privately behind the scenes."

The BBC said, in Scotland, pupils started returning to the classroom from 11 August.

However, cases doubled in a week, with the surge blamed partly on the return of schools after the holidays.

And last year, the surge that led to England's second nationwide lockdown gathered pace in September as firstly schools and secondly universities reopened.

According to the BBC, the government has maintained throughout the pandemic that it will follow the advice of scientists.

Source: BBC

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