Health Secretary statement on COVID-19 vaccines for 5 to 11 year olds
A statement from the Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid on the vaccination of 5 to 11 year olds following updated advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation.
Health and Social Care Secretary Sajid Javid said:
I have accepted the advice from the independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to make a non-urgent offer of COVID-19 vaccines to all children aged 5 to 11 in England.
皇冠体育app NHS is already offering vaccines to at-risk children and those who live with immunosuppressed people in this age group.
皇冠体育app JCVI advice follows a thorough review by our independent medicines regulator, the MHRA, which approved Pfizer鈥檚 paediatric vaccine as safe and effective for children aged 5 to 11.
Children without underlying health conditions are at low risk of serious illness from COVID-19 and the priority remains for the NHS to offer vaccines and boosters to adults and vulnerable young people, as well as to catch-up with other childhood immunisation programmes.
皇冠体育app NHS will prepare to extend this non-urgent offer to all children during April so parents can, if they want, take up the offer to increase protection against potential future waves of COVID-19 as we learn to live with this virus.