The UK regulator approves the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine for children aged 12 to 15 years old. They say it is safe and effective, and the benefits outweigh any risks.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has carried out a “rigorous review” of the vaccine in adolescents. They continue to carefully monitor the safety of it in children aged between 12 and 15 years old. They say that no “authorisation would be approved unless the expected standards of safety, quality and effectiveness have been met”.
Guided by expert advice
The decision now lies with the UK’s vaccines committee on whether to administer the vaccine to children. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) will advise the government on whether to include this age group as part of the UK’s vaccination rollout. The Department of Health and Social Care say it is “guided by the expert advisors and will update in due course”.
The Pfizer jab is already approved for use in those 16 years old and over. However, there is currently no vaccination campaign against Covid for people under the age of 18 in the UK. Although the latest advice does suggest that some 16 to 18 year olds should be offered a coronavirus vaccine in certain circumstances. This is particularly if they are in a priority group, or live in the same household as an extremely vulnerable person.
Meanwhile, earlier this month the United States and Canada began vaccinating children aged 12 to 15 years old. The EU also recently approved the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid vaccine for children in this age group. From the 7 June, Germany plan to start vaccinating children aged over 12 years.
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