The Government says the NHS is ready to launch a Covid booster vaccine roll-out and is just waiting for the 'green light' from the JCVI. Who knows if ministers would listen if the body didn't advise a third dose for all.
We are publishing a guest post on the Daily Sceptic today by a Senior Lecturer in Politics pointing out that when it comes to vaccinating healthy 12-15 year-olds the Govt can no longer claim to be following the science.
Even discounting side effects, it’s unethical to vaccinate 12–15 year olds when a such small share of the population in poor countries has been offered a vaccine. Britain should donate its leftover vaccines now.
The Government has told doctors and teachers that most 12-15 year-olds should be deemed competent to consent to Covid vaccination against the wishes of their parents. This is wrong and will undermine trust.
Government advisers are surprised that the JCVI has recommended against giving 12-15 year-olds Covid vaccines and want ministers to move ahead with their plans to extend the vaccine roll-out anyway.
We've added a Stop Press to our story about the JCVI's announcement. A source within the vaccination programme informs us the Government intends to plough on with vaccinating healthy teens regardless.
As pressure mounts on the JCVI to approve vaccinations for 12-15 year-olds and boosters, it seems no one has bothered to ask what the point is if they don't produce herd immunity.
The U.K. medicines regulator says it is safe for children aged 12-17 years to be given the Moderna Covid vaccine, leaving it to the JCVI to decide whether to advise the Government to extend the roll-out of this jab.
The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation remains largely opposed to the vaccination of younger teenagers and children, despite having given the green light for the vaccination of healthy 16 and 17 year-olds.
16 and 17 year-olds will not need parental consent to get vaccinated against Covid, it has been revealed, with Professor Jonathan Van-Tam saying there is "no time to waste" in extending the vaccine roll-out.
