This country will vaccinate 16 and 17-year-olds against COVID-19

LONDON –

The UK plans to offer coronavirus vaccines to 16- and 17-year-olds in the coming weeks, after the independent scientific body that advises the government changed its advice.

The four UK countries accepted the change from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunization (JCVI), which now says that healthy 16- and 17-year-olds can receive the first dose of Pfizer’s vaccine without the parental consent. With this, another 1.4 million Britons will be able to receive the first dose.

The JCVI had recommended two weeks ago that those under the age of 18 not be vaccinated, but said it would constantly assess the situation.

Until now, the only young people who received the Pfizer vaccine, approved by the regulatory body for all people over the age of 12, were those with underlying health conditions or lived with vulnerable people.

“Although COVID-19 is usually mild or asymptomatic in most young people, it can be very unpleasant for some and for this particular group we anticipate that one dose of the vaccine will provide good protection against serious illness and hospitalization.” said JCVI COVID-19 program chief Wei Shen Lim.

It remains to determine when young people will receive the second dose, but the scientists will present their recommendations later according to the reactions to the first dose.

The British vaccination campaign has been one of the fastest in the world – 89% of adults have received at least one dose and 73% both – the offer to young people has been quite slow. It has been claimed to extend the campaign to young people after an increase in contagion this summer due to the delta variant and the lifting of quarantine restrictions.

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