UK Experts Against Shots For Those 12-15 Yrs Old; Indian Docs Not So Sure

A fortnight after Indian regulators gave the green signal for a new Covid-19 vaccine for children over 12 years of age, the debate on inoculating children continues with the UK vaccine advisory committee recommending against giving a shot to healthy children between 12 and 15 years against the viral infection.

Mumbai: It recommended that children with co-morbidities -- such as certain cancers, congenital heart diseases or juvenile diabetes -- should be vaccinated.

Although many countries such as the US, France and Israel provide vaccine to children in the 12-15 age group, the UK Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) released a statement underlining that children are at such a low risk from the SARS-CoV-2 virus that vaccine would offer only a marginal benefit. “There is little direct benefit of vaccinating healthy children as the risk of hospitalization or long Covid is miniscule,” said the statement.