The U.K.s vaccine advisors declined Friday to recommend the vaccination of healthy older children against COVID-19, saying the direct health benefits are marginal. However, the British government said it may join others around the world in offering the vaccines after assessing wider societal issues.
In its analysis of whether the rollout of coronavirus vaccines should be expanded to children aged between 12 and 15, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation concluded that the benefits are marginally greater than the potential known harms.
With just two per million of healthy children needing intensive care treatment for COVID-19, the JCVI said the margin of benefit, based primarily on a health perspective, is considered too small to support advice on a universal program.
In contrast, the rate among children with underlying health conditions is far higher at over 100 per million. As a result, the JCVI did expand the group of older children with underlying health conditions who…