Clinically vulnerable children under five to be offered Covid-19 vaccine
By Rachel Lawler
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has that clinically vulnerable children aged between six months and four-years-old should be offered a Covid-19 vaccine.
While young children remain at a low risk of developing severe illnesses from Covid-19, the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) says that those in this age group with underlying medical conditions are seven times more likely to be admitted to paediatric intensive care units as a result of Covid-19.
The UKHSA also noted that more than one million children aged between six months and four-years-old in the US have received at least one dose of the vaccine since June 2022.
Vaccinations will be offered to eligible children from mid-June onward. Parents are advised to wait to be contacted rather than coming forward to make an appointment.
Eligible vulnerable children will be offered two doses of the vaccine, with a gap of eight to 12 weeks between the two doses.
The JCVI does not currently advise that children in this age group who are not clinically vulnerable should be offered the vaccine.
Dr Mary Ramsay, head of immunisation at the UKHSA, said: “Covid-19 is still in circulation, with thousands of new cases reported every week. The extra protection offered by the vaccine could be important for young children in clinical risk groups, who are at greater risk of severe illness. The virus is not going away so I would encourage all parents to bring their child forward if they are eligible. Parents should wait to be contacted by their local health professionals.