- Title: UK approves Pfizer/BioNTech COVID shot for 12- to 15-year-olds
- Date: 4th June 2021
- Summary: NEW YORK, NEW YORK, UNITED STATES (FILE - NOVEMBER 9, 2020) (REUTERS) VARIOUS OF PFIZER HEADQUARTERS
- Embargoed: 18th June 2021 15:32
- Keywords: BioNTech COVID-19 Pfizer children coronavirus doses jab shot teeneagers vaccination vaccine
- Location: NEW YORK AND NEW HYDE PARK, NEW YORK; INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA; AND KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES / COVENTRY AND STEVENAGE, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- City: NEW YORK AND NEW HYDE PARK, NEW YORK; INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA; AND KALAMAZOO, MICHIGAN, UNITED STATES / COVENTRY AND STEVENAGE, ENGLAND, UNITED KINGDOM
- Country: United Kingdom
- Topics: Europe,Health/Medicine
- Reuters ID: LVA002EFZKKLJ
- Aspect Ratio: 16:9
- Story Text: Britain's medicines regulator said on Friday (June 4) it had approved the COVID-19 vaccine developed by Pfizer and BioNTech for use on 12- to 15-year-olds, following similar clearances in the U.S. and the E.U.
The regulator said it would now be up to the country's Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to decide whether to go ahead and inoculate this age group as part of Britain's vaccination roll-out plan.
Children aged 12-15 are already receiving the Pfizer shot in the United States, while France and Germany are planning to start offering it to that age group this month.
Britain's Health and Social Care department said it would provide an update once the JCVI had made its decision.
The chief executive of the UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency June Raine said in a statement that her agency had carefully reviewed the clinical trial data in children aged 12 to 15 years old.
However, giving vaccines to younger people in affluent countries while many parts of the world await doses for older and more vulnerable people has raised concerns.
The World Health Organisation has urged rich countries to give shots to the COVAX scheme instead.
(Production: Ben Dangerfield) - Copyright Holder: FILE REUTERS (CAN SELL)
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