The choice to scale back the variety of kids who’re supplied Covid jabs has prompted outcry from mum or dad teams and teachers.
The UK Health Safety Company (UKHSA) mentioned kids who had not turned 5 by the top of final month wouldn’t be supplied a vaccination. The company mentioned the supply of Covid jabs to wholesome 5 to 11-year-olds was at all times meant to be momentary.
UKHSA’s Green Book, which gives info on the vaccine rollout for public well being professionals, states: “This one-off programme applies to these aged 5 to 11 years, together with those that flip 5 years of age earlier than the top of August 2022.
“Topic to additional clarification, on-going eligibility in 2022/23, after the one off-programme, is anticipated to be for youngsters within the educational years the place kids are aged 11 or 12 years.”
The data tallies with that supplied by the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) in February 2022.
Nonetheless, Prof Christina Pagel, of College Faculty London, criticised the transfer.
“JCVI itself thought-about there to be a profit to younger kids to be vaccinated – even when most of them had already been contaminated,” she mentioned.
“There may be additionally the extra profit to kids of offering further safety from developing long Covid, lacking college in the course of the acute sickness and decreasing transmission to family members, different kids and academics.”
Pagel mentioned that not less than one severe Covid wave was anticipated later this yr, however that many kids about to begin college would now have to attend six years for vaccination, with possible comparatively frequent infections in that point.
“After we know there’s a protected and efficient vaccine obtainable this appears unjustifiable to me,” mentioned Pagel, including that – whereas uncommon – kids had died from Covid.
Adam Finn, professor of paediatrics on the College of Bristol, and a member of the JCVI, mentioned that whereas the Covid vaccine programme for priming jabs would most likely be wound down sooner or later, together with for youngsters, it had not been finalised when this could occur.
He identified that within the UK, the proportion of oldsters who had chosen to have their younger kids immunised had been small, regardless of the supply being open.
The JCVI says younger kids are at very low threat of creating extreme illness from Covid, whereas most can have gained pure immunity from infections.
“The principle coverage focus proper now although … is to attempt to immunise those that are at highest threat of extreme acute Covid as per the latest announcement on the autumn booster programme,” mentioned Finn.
UKHSA confirmed all kids aged 5 and over in scientific threat teams would proceed to be supplied Covid jabs, together with by the booster programme.
Gavin Dabrera, deputy director of Covid-19 vaccines and epidemiology at UKHSA mentioned: “From the outset, this supply was solely relevant to kids who turned 5 years outdated by 31 August 2022. The NHS in England vaccinates according to this steerage and eligible kids who turned 5 by 31 August can nonetheless come ahead for the jab,” he mentioned.
“The JCVI regularly opinions the UK’s Covid-19 vaccination programme, together with the supply to 5-11s, and any updates to its recommendation will probably be introduced in the end.”
