Covid vaccine for children: Who is eligible and what are the side effects?

Covid vaccines will be offered to six million children aged five to 11 in England, Scotland and Wales, following advice from scientists.

Here are the answers to some of the key questions about vaccines for younger children.

What is the latest?

The independent Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises the Government, has recommended that a “non-urgent” offer of vaccines should be made to all children aged between five and 11.

The advice was given to ministers more than a week ago, with Wales and Scotland first to act, ahead of an announcement by the JCVI on Wednesday, supporting rollout across the UK. 

What is the point of this decision? 

Many scientists say the approval has come too late to assist in efforts to protect children against the current wave of omicron, which appears to be on its way out.

Latest estimates suggest 85 per cent of children aged between five and 11 have had Covid, giving them some immunity. 

But the JCVI say the jabs could help to increase protection against potential future waves. Its scientists say this could “protect the very small number of children” who develop severe disease from serious illness and hospitalisation and provide some short-term protection against mild infection across the age group. 

When can children aged five to 11 get their first jab? 

The programme will start being rolled out in April, with two jabs 12 weeks apart, meaning second jabs should start being delivered in July. 

How does that protect children from future waves? 

While prevention of mild infection is short-lived, jabs offer longer-term protection against serious disease. With a minimum 12-week gap required between doses, health officials say it is too late to start the rollout when any future wave has started spreading.

Why would we bother, when omicron has proved extremely mild for children? 

Scientists have stressed that we do not know what future waves will bring, and what impact future variants could have. 

So why isn’t it a priority?

The JCVI doesn’t just look at Covid jabs. Scientists are worried that the pandemic has seen major setbacks to the rollout of other programmes which are more crucial in protecting children from disease.

There are particular concerns about MMR vaccines, where uptake is the lowest in a decade, and about other jabs such as HPV, which protects against cervical cancer

Will offering children jabs help parents planning overseas holidays? 

Some families planning holidays have complained that the lack of jabs for under-12s has left them facing logistical headaches. The majority of countries in Europe are now introducing jabs for under-12s, and some holiday resorts have banned those who are unvaccinated.

What is this 'paediatric formulation'?

The paediatric dose is a third of the strength of an adult dose after research showed that the immune response from a lower dose in those aged five to 11 is just as good as a full dose for 16- to 25-year-olds. Children will be offered two jabs, at least 12 weeks apart.

Are there any side effects?

JCVI scientists said common side effects such as fever, headaches and malaise do occur in some children following this vaccine but do not normally last more than a day or two.

The MHRA has said the  “overwhelming majority” of side effects were mild, including a sore arm, after examining global data, including that from the United States, where millions of young children have been vaccinated. 

What about myocarditis? 

When the JCVI  deliberated on rolling out vaccines to children aged 12 to 15, one of their greatest concerns was about whether jabs increased the risk of heart inflammation, with particular concerns about second doses. As a result, when vaccines were first offered to this age group, they were only offered one jab.

The precaution was taken because of evidence from other countries linking most cases of myocarditis to second jabs. 

However, most nations have shorter intervals between doses. In November, the JCVI said the rollout of jabs to adults suggests that with a longer interval, of up to 12 weeks, there is almost no risk of the condition. 

Evidence suggests that myocarditis is also far less common in younger children. 

But scientists have said those aged five to 11 should have a 12-week gap between doses. 

Where will children be given jabs?

It has not yet been announced where children will be vaccinated, with officials last night suggesting that some of the rollout may take place in school holidays. 

Will children under the age of five ever be offered the jab?

It is a possibility but those decisions are a long way off.

The UK has taken much longer than most countries to give the green light to vaccines for children aged five to 11. 

Last week, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said it needed more data before considering whether children aged six months to four years should be offered the Pfizer vaccine.

Why have different countries in the UK made the announcement at different times?

The JCVI guidance was given to ministers more than a week ago, but since then the announcement has been held up.

The Westminster Government is understood to have been keen to frame the option in a context that places more emphasis on choice, as part of its long-term strategy for living with Covid-19, which is due to be published on Monday. 

With Wales getting ahead on Tuesday night with an announcement that jabs would be rolled out, the JCVI recommendation and announcements for England and Northern Ireland finally emerged on Wednesdayafternoon, just after Scotland announced its rollout.