On 16 February 2022 the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) updated its advice about Covid–19 vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 (new JCVI statement). JCVI now advises two 10 mcg doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty®) to all children aged 5 to 11 years of age. The 2 doses should be offered with an interval of at least 12 weeks between doses. The Green Book recommendations have been updated and a parents’ guide published by the NHS. The vaccine roll-out to this group commences on 4 April 2022.

Consideration had been given to the health benefits of vaccination in this age group, the potential educational benefits, and the impact on NHS services of delivering a 2-dose vaccination programme to around 5 million young children.This advice was stated by JCVI as being a one-off pandemic response programme to be reviewed as the COVID-19 pandemic moves further towards endemicity in the UK. In formulating the current advice for 5 to 11-year-olds, JCVI considered evidence on:

1.      potential direct health benefits and harms

2.      indirect educational impacts of vaccination

3.      wider anticipated opportunity costs

These considerations and the relevant evidence are detailed further in the JCVI statement of 16 February 2022.

All 16 to 17-year-olds should be offered a booster vaccination 3 months after completion of their primary course (unless contraindicated).

 

12 to 15-year-olds who are:

 

All 5 to 11-year-olds should now be offered two paediatric doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine (Comirnaty®) with an interval of 12 weeks between the first and second doses. Boosters in children aged 5-11 years will be reviewed by the JCVI in due course.

 

Current advice in PIMS-TS cases suggests that an interval of 12 weeks should be observed, although earlier administration can be considered in those at high risk of infection and/or who are fully recovered. Green Book information on vaccines 28 Feb 22 Page 36

There is no specific data to guide time interval between COVID-19 vaccination and surgery and vice-versa. The Royal College of Surgeons (Eng) (RCS (Eng) guidance) states that: