An Edinburgh health expert who has been advising the Scottish Government during the pandemic is calling for adolescents to be recommended the vaccine.
Devi Sridhar, chairwoman of global public health at Edinburgh University took to social media to accuse the JCVI of “not paying attention” to global health experts, warning that the Delta variant is a "game-changer."
The Covid adviser said that she feared there could be “a wave of infection in young people aged 0 to 18” if they are not offered the Covid jab.
Taking to social media, she penned: “Are we ready for a wave of infection in young people 0-18 (who largely don't have access to a vaccine now)? They're the group most susceptible.
“I'm concerned that JCVI isn't paying attention to the U.S. & other countries and is instead focused on internal modelling. Delta is a gamechanger. Can understand decision to start with priority 12+ groups, then expanding to all as supply arrives. But then say that openly.
“The choice increasingly isn't 'vaccine or nothing' -> it's 'vaccine or infection'. This is how the US CDC analysed their data looking at millions of infections v. millions of vaccinations in 12-16yrs. More in my article out soon (twitter can't do justice to such a complex issue.”
The Scottish Government is currently following the vaccination advice from JCVI who have only recommended vaccines for adolescents who are considered “high risk.”
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation recently recommended that vaccines are given to children aged 12 to 15 who have a severe disability, Down's syndrome, or severely weakened immune system.
Adolescents between 16 and 17-year-olds who are considered vulnerable are also eligible for the vaccine, while kids aged 12 to 17 who live with someone vulnerable are also able to get jabbed.
Nicola Sturgeon’s government has the power to overrule the JCVI and roll out their own adolescent vaccine programme and according to the Times newspaper Dr Gregor Smith, the chief medical officer, has written to the JCVI seeking a review of its decision.
Devi Sridhar also shared data from Public Health Scotland which stated that 23 per cent of people aged 0 to 19 have Covid-19 antibodies, leaving around three-quarters of children without them.
It comes as JVCI expert Professor Finn told Sky News that is 'not enough evidence to justify vaccinating children against COVID as they are "less infectious than adults"
He said: "We can't be immunising children just for the benefits of adults if it's not benefiting the children themselves."
He added that the Covid risk to children is "vanishingly low."
