UK to vaccinate only children with comorbidities

UK will lift restrictions despite 3:04 delta variant

(CNN) -

The UK will only offer COVID-19 vaccines to children if they have underlying health problems, Coronavirus Vaccine Deployment Minister Nadhim Zahawi said on Monday following the latest advice from advisers. government vaccines.

"The recommendation at this time is not to vaccinate those under 18 without underlying health problems. But the JCVI (Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization) will continue to review the new data and consider recommending vaccination of those under 18 years without underlying health problems in the future, "Zahawi said during a briefing in Parliament.

• ANALYSIS |

  Boris Johnson is making another big gamble by lifting restrictions in England.

  He even admits that it could lead to more deaths from covid

The vaccine will be offered to children between the ages of 12 and 15 who have a neurological disorder, Down syndrome, a weakened immune system, or profound or multiple learning disabilities.

Children under the age of 17 who are less than three months after their 18th birthday will also be able to get the vaccine to make sure they are protected when they turn 18, Zahawi said.

Also, children between 12 and 15 years old who live with immunosuppressed people will also be offered the vaccine.

Pfizer vaccine approved for use in children

The United Kingdom's independent body, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), has approved the Pfizer / BioNTech vaccine for people 12 years of age and older as it "meets their strong safety standards, efficiency and quality ".

advertising

In a statement, the Secretary of Health, Sajid Javid, said that he has accepted the recommendations of the experts and has instructed the country's public health service (NHS) to make preparations for the expansion of the distribution "as soon as possible. ".

Although it is much more unusual than in adults, children can be severely affected, hospitalized, and die from the coronavirus.

Covid-19 Vaccines against covid-19