Children and young people aged 12-15 years are now being offered a dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine after Scottish Ministers accepted advice from the four UK Chief Medical Officers (CMOs).
This includes all children and young people aged 12-15 who are not already covered by existing advice from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) in a move to reduce the disruption caused to education by COVID-19.
The decision comes after the JCVI assessed that, while the health benefits from vaccination are marginally greater than the potential known harms, it advised the government that the Chief Medical Officers from the UK’s four nations may wish to seek further views on the wider societal impacts of vaccination, including educational benefits which are outside the remit of the JCVI. All four Chief Medical Officers agreed that the wider public health impacts meant a decision in favour of vaccination.
Children and young people aged 12-15 in NHS Lanarkshire can now attend any local drop-in clinic. Details of all drop-in clinics are available at www.nhslanarkshire.scot.nhs.uk/covid-19-vaccine/#clinics
Dr Mark Russell, Lead for the covid-19 vaccination programme in Lanarkshire, said: “The roll-out of the covid-19 vaccine to all children and young people aged 12-15 marks a significant milestone in the vaccination programme. The covid-19 vaccines have demonstrated they are safe and effective in this age group and vaccination offers the best chance of protecting young people from covid-19 and preventing further disruption to education. Many countries around the world have already been safely vaccinating children and young people in this age group.
“Getting the covid-19 vaccine is a decision to be made jointly between parents or carers and their children, but it’s really important to use reliable and trusted sources such as NHS inform when making a decision and assessing the potential benefits, risks and side effects. Individual choice should be respected for the decisions young people and their parents or carers make in accepting, or not accepting the vaccine offer.
“Where possible, parents or carers are welcome to attend appointments with their children and both can ask questions about any queries they have before the vaccination is given.
“I would like to thank all of the vaccinators and vaccine site staff who have worked so hard to get us to this stage of the covid-19 vaccination programme.”
Health Secretary Humza Yousaf said: “I want to thank Dr Gregor Smith and the other three UK CMOs who have taken the time to consider the benefits of offering a first dose of the covid-19 vaccination to 12-15 year olds.
“I recognise the impact disruption to education can have and am keen that we do all we can to reduce this so I am happy to accept the recommendation to proceed.
“As the CMOs recommended, informed consent must be at the heart of decision making so we will ensure that there is clear communication with this age group and their parents so they understand the potential benefits, potential side effects and the balance between them. A new leaflet from Public Health Scotland will be circulated to ensure parents/carers and young people have all the information they need. Individual choice is central to this, and the decisions of parents and children will be respected.”
For more information visit www.nhsinform.scot/12to15 or call 0800 030 8013 (available 8am–8pm 7 days a week).
