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What has been decided?
The UK's four chief medical officers (CMOs) have agreed that children aged 12 to 15 should be offered a first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine.
Why are they doing this?
The main reason is to try to prevent outbreaks leading to disruption in learning and school closures, rather than concerns about children's health. Having a significant proportion of pupils vaccinated is likely to reduce the probability of local outbreaks associated with schools, the CMOs said.
How will it work?
The NHS in England has been asked to prepare vaccines for all 12 to 15-year-olds, to be administrated largely through the school vaccination programme. Vaccinations will be given in suitable areas such as school halls by immunisation teams that often include nurses, healthcare support workers and administrative staff.
The UK's four chief medical officers (CMOs) have agreed that children aged 12 to 15 should be offered a first dose of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine
The CMOs said they would want the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to give a view on whether children should receive a second dose once more data becomes available internationally.
Is it safe?
The risk is very small, with the majority of children who have had the jabs worldwide not suffering any major side-effects.
Studies have found a small link between the vaccines and inflammation of the heart, known as myocarditis. Research suggests the risk is higher in boys after a second dose.
Experts have said the recommendation to jab 12 to 15-year-olds is a 'good decision' that could 'benefit healthy children'.
What is the evidence?
Clinical evidence shows a single dose cuts the risk of catching the Delta variant of Covid-19 by 55 per cent and has a much higher effect on preventing severe illness and death. It also cuts transmission.
The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health said evidence had shown children are 'highly unlikely' to become seriously ill with Covid-19,
