Could No10 force through Covid vaccines for children?

Could No10 force through Covid vaccines for children?
Could No10 force through Covid vaccines for children?

Fears were raised today that ministers could overrule guidance from scientists on vaccinating children against Covid.

No10's top advisers last week said they were against expanding Britain's roll-out to under-18s until they got more data on the safety of vaccinating under-18s.

But the final decision is now 'stuck' with ministers, and experts have been left 'in the dark' over what will actually happen, Whitehall insiders have claimed.

Experts told MailOnline it is not clear why the government would want to go against any advice, given the lack of clear safety data currently. 

And one member of SAGE today said safety data for vaccinating children needed to be 'incredibly robust' owing to their low risks from Covid — but stressed that it wasn't quite there yet. 

A 13-year-old received his first Pfizer Covid jab last month in New York, after the US expanded its vaccine rollout to over 12s

A 13-year-old received his first Pfizer Covid jab last month in New York, after the US expanded its vaccine rollout to over 12s

Meanwhile, it also emerged today that ministers want to dish out coronavirus jabs to 16 and 17 year olds before they return to school or college in September.  

The topic of vaccinating children against Covid has divided opinion, with critics of any roll-out expansion questioning whether it is even necessary because youngsters face such a tiny risk of falling seriously ill if they get infected.  

Some have also highlighted the ethical issues with vaccinating kids in the UK, when poorer countries do not have enough jabs to vaccinate older adults.

But others have said it would help thwart the spread of the Indian variant and boost protection in the population ahead of a potential third wave this winter.  

Last week The Telegraph said the Joint Committee on Vaccines and Immunisation (JCVI) wanted to wait for more data on how safe vaccines are for children before making a formal recommendation on offering the jabs to children. 

WHAT IS MYOCARDITIS? 

Myocarditis is an inflammation of the heart muscle. There are no specific causes of the condition but it is usually triggered by a virus.

Some of the most common infections which cause myocarditis, are those called adenovirus and Coxsackie B.

It can be caused by the common cold, hepatitis B and C, and herpes simplex virus. 

The most common symptoms of the condition include chest pain, a fever, a fast heartbeat, tiredness and shortness of breath.

If the inflammation damages the heart muscle or the fibres that conduct electrical pulses to the heart, complications can develop.

They can develop quickly, and include sudden loss of consciousness, an abnormally fast, slow or irregular heartbeat.

In very severe cases the condition is fatal, causing heart failure or sudden death. The inflammation enlarges the heart and creates scar tissue, forcing it to work harder and therefore making it weaker.

In most cases of viral myocarditis, the illness goes away and there are no complications. 

But in rare cases when inflammation is severe, there can be damage to the heart which needs monitoring and possibly a heart transplant.

Myocarditis can reoccur, but there is no known way to prevent this. The risk of recurrence is low, around 10 to 15 per cent, according to Myocarditis Foundation.

It is difficult to gauge the prevalence of myocarditis because there is no widely available test for it.

In 2010, approximately 400,000 people died of heart muscle disease - cardiomyopathy that includes myocarditis - worldwide.

Expert consensus opinion estimates that up to 40 per cent of dilated cardiomyopathy results from myocarditis, according to the National Organisation for Rare Disorders.

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But a source told the newspaper today that the panel, which advises No10 on the roll-out, has been left 'in the dark' over the next move.

The insider said the JCVI had 'reached its conclusion' and that they were 'perplexed' by the delay in the formal announcement.  

They said: 'It is about reconciling the view of the committee, which, of course, is evolving over time anyway and what the politicians are minded to do.

'I guess that process is taking longer than usual. We've deliberated and we've reached some conclusions.

'But the position we're in is that we're waiting for a joint communiqué from the DHSC [Department of Health and Social Care], from Matt Hancock and the whole team.'

The paper also reported that a senior Whitehall source denied that the decision was being delayed.

Professor Paul Hunter, an infectious disease expert at the University of East Anglia, said he is not sure why the government would want to go against the advice of the JCVI, especially because it has 'given consistently high quality advice in its area of interest throughout the pandemic'. 

'The case for vaccinating children is less clear than vaccinating those older,' he told MailOnline.

'I suspect we will ultimately offer vaccination to teenagers but the pros and cons need to be properly assessed by a competent body before any roll out and there are none more competent in this area than JCVI.'

Today it was also revealed that ministers are keen to give those aged 16 and 17 Covid vaccines before the end of the summer holidays.

Ministers want to open up appointments in August for late teens to get the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine, before they go back to school in September, the Sun reported.

A source told the newspaper that subject to JCVI approval, there was 'capacity and willingness' to offer jabs to the younger age group.

Children aged 16 and 17 'are some of the most socially active members of society so if we can cut that transmission, it can only be a good thing', they said. 

Dr Simon Kolstoe, a senior lecturer in evidence based healthcare at the University of Portsmouth, told MailOnline that 16 and 17-year-olds are 'considered adults' for most health issues.

He added: 'So it is not a huge surprise to include them if the government wants to provide vaccines for all adults.

'But more broadly we do need to consider whether giving coronavirus vaccines to under 40s is the best use of funds. There are many other health conditions that are far more serious for

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