Children aged six months to four years with underlying medical conditions will be given the COVID-19 shot, Britain’s vaccine adviser said Thursday.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI) states that eligible children should receive two doses of the vaccine with an eight to 12-week interval between the first and second doses.
Britain’s health regulator, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) in December approved the vaccine – made by Pfizer and BioNTech – for the same age group.
US officials launched the Pfizer-BioNTech shot last year for the age group.
Data from the United States showed that the most common side effects reported are those seen with other vaccines in this age group, such as restlessness or crying, drowsiness and fever, the JCVI statement said.
The JCVI, however, said it does not recommend vaccination of children aged six months to four years who are not in the clinical risk group.
NHS England has confirmed that it will begin vaccinating eligible people in mid-June.
Health and Social Affairs Secretary Steve Barclay said he accepted JCVI’s advice.
In February, Politico reported that United Kingdom authorities were mulling a brand new tax on vaping.
NHS Digital figures from the closing 12 months confirmed that 9% of 11- to 15-12-month-olds could use e-cigarettes in 2021, up from 6% in 2018.
