A health worker draws from a bottle of vaccine.
The British drug regulator said on Tuesday that after giving Pfizer the green light, it has approved the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine for children aged 12 to 17.
The Drugs and Health Products Regulatory Agency said in a statement that the jab “is safe and effective at this age.”
But it added that the joint committee on vaccines and immunization (JCVI), a government advisory body, now recommends whether to start vaccination.
The UK started a mass vaccination program in December last year. So far, nearly 90% of adults have received the first dose of the vaccine.
More than three-quarters (77%) of people received two doses of the vaccine-a factor in the government’s removal of all remaining legal coronavirus restrictions in England on Monday.
Health officials said that although the infection rate has risen, vaccination has led to a drop in hospital admissions for more severe Covid-19 cases.
We live in a world where facts and fiction are blurred
In uncertain times, you need news that you can trust.Just for R75 per month, You can access a world of in-depth analysis, investigative news, popular opinions, and a range of features. Journalism strengthens democracy. Invest in the future today.
