UK moves towards child vaccination

It’s been confirmed today that those aged 16 and 17 in the UK are on course to be offered Covid vaccines within weeks. The announcement came after the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) unveiled new recommendations in favour of a first dose of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for this age group — stating that it would ‘provide good protection against severe illness and hospitalisation’. Sixteen and 17-year-olds will not require the consent of their parents to take up the offer — with a decision on whether a second dose will be required will be made later. 

The announcement comes after Nicola Sturgeon appeared to let the cat out of the bag on Tuesday when she said she ‘expected’ an update from the JCVI imminently. It comes just two weeks after the JCVI recommended against the vaccination of over-12s — saying that the jabs ought to only be offered to those who are either clinically vulnerable or living with someone who is.