UK’s four chief medical officers recommend children aged 12 to 15 years old are offered Covid jab

The UK’s four chief medical officers have recommended that all children aged 12 to 15 years old should be offered a single dose of a Covid vaccine.

The decision comes after scientific advisers serving on the Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) said it was “of the opinion that the benefits from vaccination are marginally greater than the potential known harms” for healthy children.

In a letter to Savid Javid, the Chief Medical Officers of Wales, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland announced their joint decision today.

They said while the health benefits of offering the jab were “less clear cut” than for adults, they said that reducing disruption to education was important to “public health”.

The CMOs said the decision was based primarily on the impact on education for that age group.

They considered the physical and mental health and long-term prospects for children in that age group.

It will now be up to ministers whether to accept the recommendation of the four CMOs.

COVID-19 vaccinations for 12-15-year-olds with specific underlying health conditions and children and young people aged 12 to 17 living with immunosuppressed adults are already being offered in North Wales.