Children aged 12 and over will be offered a Covid jab in Wales.
The Joint Committee for Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has updated its advice on vaccines to young people and the Welsh Government has responded by saying it will "work quickly to identify these young people and to offer them the vaccine". Young people aged 16 to 17 years of age who are at higher risk of serious Covid-19 have already been offered the vaccination.
Which young people will be offered a Covid vaccine in Wales?
- Children and young people aged 12 -15 years with specific underlying health conditions that put them at risk of serious Covid-19 should be offered a vaccination.
- Children and young people aged 12 years and over who are household contacts of persons who are immuno-suppressed should be offered a Covid-19 vaccination on the understanding that the main benefits from vaccination are related to the potential for indirect protection of their household contact who is immuno-suppressed.
Read more: The things people in England can do that those in Wales cannot after 'Freedom Day' changes
Children over 12 in households with an immuno-suppressed person will not be contacted directly and therefore can use a self-referral form, which you will find here. The only vaccines the JCVI recommends for these children is the Pfizer jab.
The JCVI also advises that it is reasonable to allow a lead-in time to offer vaccination to those children who are within three months of their 18th birthday to ensure good uptake of vaccine in newly-turned 18 year olds. Welsh Government health minister Eluned Morgan said: "We will move quickly to vaccinate those turning 18 years old, including those intending to go to university."
Why are all children not being vaccinated?
The reasons all children are not being offered the jab is because the severity of Covid in children is normally very low.
Baroness Morgan added: "As a result of the low incidence and severity of Covid-19 in children and the reported safety issues, the JCVI does not currently advise routine universal vaccination of all other children and young people less than 18 years of age.
"I am aware there have been calls for children to be vaccinated to prevent them getting long Covid. Covid rates in children are relatively low and there is still limited information about the overall direct effects of the virus on them.
"However, studies are emerging which show that this risk is very low in children, especially in comparison with adults, and similar to the secondary health complications of other respiratory viral infections in children. My officials remain in close contact with the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health on this matter and have established a group to consider the impacts of Long Covid on both adults and children and co-ordinate the wide ranging response needed."
Responding to the news Plaid Cymru spokeswoman for children and young people, Siân Gwenllian MS said: “Welsh Government should follow the JCVI advice. It’s right that steps are taken to reduce the likelihood of the virus running riot amongst our young people: They have already suffered deep harm from the effects of isolation and disrupted learning. We can’t allow the virus to spread freely, especially with emerging evidence about the impact of long-COVID on this age group.
“However, the health minister must provide reassurance that the decisions around vaccinating children are kept constantly under review, particularly as more international data becomes available. In the meantime, there are other protective measures that can and should be taken, such as ensuring adequate ventilation in all educational settings.”
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