Will the Minister confirm whether the Welsh Government is planning to offer the COVID-19 vaccine to those under 16 years old as rates of the Indian variant increase across the UK and whether there are plans to prioritise young clinically extremely vulnerable people, such as those with cystic fibrosis?
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has not yet authorised the use of any COVID vaccines in those under the age of 16. We alongside the other UK nations, are guided both by the MHRA’s licensing regime and the expert advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI). We are continuing to follow the current JCVI advice to vaccinate all adults in order of the risk COVID-19 poses to them.
In the absence of regulatory approval or advice from the JCVI we cannot routinely extend vaccination to children under 16. However, the JCVI are considering the clinical evidence to determine whether all children should be vaccinated or whether vaccination is best offered to certain groups determined by their age or clinical risk factors. We expect the JCVI to provide this advice towards the end of July. We are actively considering how NHS Wales can promptly operationalise any JCVI recommendation to vaccinate children under 16.