UK advisers decide against COVID vaccines for healthy 12- to 15-year-olds

LONDON: Britain's vaccine advisers said they were not recommending the universal vaccination of 12 to 15-year-olds against COVID-19, preferring to take a precautionary approach to assess the long-term impacts of rare heart inflammation.

The advice could see Britain pursue a different approach to the United States and some European countries, which are pursuing broader vaccination of the age group. But while the British government has previously accepted the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) over COVID-19 policy, it said it would consult medical advisers on the broader societal impact of vaccinating children, meaning a final decision is yet to be taken.