A covid expert has backed secondary school pupils in Scotland receiving the vaccine in a bid to reach herd immunity.
Professor Linda Bauld said a number of countries give the jab to 16 and 17 years olds and said she could see a “number of reasons” for extending it across the UK.
It was reported today that Pfizer jabs could be offered to high school pupils from September when the new school year starts.
A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson, which covers England, said: “No decisions have been made on whether children should be offered vaccinations and we will be guided by the experts once clinical trials have concluded.”
Bauld, an Edinburgh University academic who has been an authoritative voice during the pandemic, told the Daily Record:"A number of countries already include 16 and 17 year olds in their Covid-19 vaccine programme, but to extend to younger age groups requires data from clinical trials with children which are underway.
“Pfizer have already reported topline results from their trial with 12-15 year olds in the USA. The results were positive in terms of efficacy as was the safety profile.
"The MHRA [Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency] would need to approve it for use in the UK including in Scotland, and we will need to wait and see whether that occurs.”
She added: "I can see a number of reasons for extending the vaccine programme to adolescents in order to contribute to population immunity. But I'd wait to see what regulators decide.”
If the MHRA provided approval, it is understood this would apply across the UK and guidance would be issued.
Meanwhile, another expert has said it is “very much an open question” whether secondary school pupils will need to be vaccinated from September.
Professor Adam Finn, from the University of Bristol, was asked by Times Radio if there was a “need” for the plans reportedly being drawn up by the NHS.
“We don’t know the answer to that yet, so this is very much still up in the air,” he said.
“I think it’s very much an open question at this point,” he added.
