The Pfizer vaccine has been given approval in the UK for use on children as young as five-years-old.
A new 'age-appropriate' formulation of the Pfizer BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine was approved today by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA)
The MHRA found that the jab is safe and effective for kids aged between five and 11 years old following a robust review of safety data.
The MHRA is responsible for regulating all medicines and medical devices in the UK and the agency says tests showed a 'positive benefit-risk profile' for the vaccine to be used in this young age group.
The approval is based on children in this age group being given a lower dosage - 10 micrograms compared with 30 micrograms - than older children over 12 and adults.
Dr June Raine, MHRA Chief Executive said parents should feel "reassured" that the Pfizer is safe for their children.
She said: "Parents and carers can be reassured that no new vaccine for children would have been approved unless the expected standards of safety, quality and effectiveness have been met.
"We have concluded that the Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective for 5 to 11-year olds, with no new safety concerns identified. We have carefully considered all the available data and reached the decision that there is robust evidence to support a positive benefit risk for children in this age group.
"Our detailed review of all side-effect reports to date has found that the overwhelming majority relate to mild symptoms, such as a sore arm or a flu-like illness. We have in place a comprehensive safety surveillance strategy for monitoring the safety of all UK-approved COVID-19 vaccines and this includes children aged 5 to 11 years old."
As with other age groups, it is given as two injections in the upper arm. It will be for the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to make the final recommendation on the dosing interval.
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