Experts in the UK are expected to recommend that all 16 and 17-year-olds should be offered a Covid vaccine.
The news was revealed by Scotland’s first minister Nicola Sturgeon during her latest pandemic update to the Scottish Parliament.
Ms Sturgeon said that the confirmation should arrive within the coming days and said that the Scottish, Welsh, Northern Irish and UK governments were all in the same position.
The advice will come from The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation — that last month said it was still assessing the benefits and risks.
About 1.4 million teenagers would be included in the new rollout if the vaccine was extended to 16 and 17-year-olds.
When will under-18s be able to get the vaccine?
It is not yet known when the jabs will be offered for teenagers.
But Nicola Sturgeon said that the Government is “ready to implement any recommendations as soon as possible”, referring to all four Parliaments.
The jab was approved for safe use in the UK for 16 and 17-year-olds back in December.
Last month the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine was also approved for 12 to 15-year-olds although that rollout is not expected in the near future.
The JCVI is understood to be in the process of finalising its updated advice on 16-17 year olds, which will be provided to the UK government.
According to both the Daily Mail and Daily Telegraph, this will happen on Wednesday — but this is yet to be confirmed.
Are any under-18s already eligible?
There are already 223,755 under-18s across England who have received their first vaccine dose.
It was previously announced that under-18s would be eligible if they met specific criteria including those with certain health conditions.
This was also extended to those living with someone with a low immune system, or less than three months away from their 18th birthday.
In July the JCVI extended its recommendation on Covid jabs to children aged over 12 who are at higher risk of getting ill with the virus.
Children between 12 and 15-years-old with severe neurodisabilities, Down’s syndrome, immunosuppression and multiple or severe learning disabilities are now being offered the vaccine.
For more stories from where you live, visit InYourArea.
Read More
Related Articles
Read More
Related Articles
