UK regulator approves Pfizer’s Covid-19 vaccine in children aged 12 and over

In the United Kingdom, children aged 12 to 15 are now available to receive their vaccines against covid-19 after the national medicines regulator has approved the jab vaccine made by Pfizer.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) concluded the drug was safe and effective for use in younger people. According to the head of the regulator, Dr June Raine, the benefits of the vaccine outweighed the risk. Thus, the circle of vaccinated people in the UK becomes wider month by month.

“We have in place a comprehensive safety surveillance strategy for monitoring the safety of all UK-approved Covid-19 vaccines and this surveillance will include the 12 to 15-year age group,” Dr Raine added.

Commenting on the approval of the vaccine for teens aged from 12 to 15, the MRHA chief said that no extension to an authorisation would be approved unless the expected standards of safety, quality and effectiveness have been met.

In England, the antiviral vaccine is already approved for use in those aged over 16, The National reports on Friday.