Saudi Press

Saudi Arabia and the world
Monday, Jun 02, 2025

UK regulator approves Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine for children as young as 12 

UK regulator approves Pfizer's Covid-19 vaccine for children as young as 12 

The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulator Agency (MHRA) has approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for use in 12- to 15-year-olds after a “rigorous review” found the jab to be “safe and effective in this age group.”
The UK health regulator formally extended approval of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine to the 12-15 age group on Friday, following the examination of clinical trial data provided by the company.

Announcing its decision, MHRA Chief Executive Dr. June Raine said that the regulator had concluded “the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is safe and effective in this age group,” highlighting how the data shows “the benefits of this vaccine outweigh any risk.”

The clinical trial had involved 2,000 children aged 12-15 and found that there were no cases of Covid-19 among those who received two doses of the vaccine, compared with 16 infections within the placebo group. No new side effects were identified or reported in the trial and the safety levels were seen as comparable to those in young adults.

The MHRA’s statement paves the way for the UK government to expand its inoculation programme to children, with the decision in the hands of the country’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), which advises the UK government on its inoculation strategy.

A spokesperson for the UK Department of Health confirmed that they have asked the JCVI to provide guidance on offering the vaccine to younger people, stating that the government “will be guided by the expert advisors.”

The Pfizer vaccine has already been approved for use in UK children aged 16 and 17, with the government preparing plans to vaccinate those children in a bid to control the transmission of the virus within secondary schools.

The UK government hasn’t announced its plans in this area but the MHRA’s approval for children aged 12 to 15 could allow them to include those students in any school-based vaccination scheme.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Saudi Press
0:00
0:00
Close
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Meta and Anduril Collaborate on AI-Driven Military Augmented Reality Systems
EU Central Bank Pushes to Replace US Dollar with Euro as World’s Main Currency
European and Arab Ministers Convene in Madrid to Address Gaza Conflict
U.S. Health Secretary Ends Select COVID-19 Vaccine Recommendations
Trump Warns Putin Is 'Playing with Fire' Amid Escalating Ukraine Conflict
India and Pakistan Engage Trump-Linked Lobbyists to Influence U.S. Policy
U.S. Halts New Student Visa Interviews Amid Enhanced Security Measures
Trump Administration Cancels $100 Million in Federal Contracts with Harvard
SpaceX Starship Test Flight Ends in Failure, Mars Mission Timeline Uncertain
King Charles Affirms Canadian Sovereignty Amid U.S. Statehood Pressure
Iranian Revolutionary Guard Founder Warns Against Trusting Regime in Nuclear Talks
UAE Offers Free ChatGPT Plus Subscriptions to Citizens
Lebanon Initiates Plan to Disarm Palestinian Factions
Iran and U.S. Make Limited Progress in Nuclear Talks
The Daily Debate: The Fall of the Dollar — Strategic Reset or Economic Self-Destruction?
Trump Administration's Tariff Policies and Dollar Strategy Spark Global Economic Debate
OpenAI Acquires Jony Ive’s Startup for $6.5 Billion to Build a Revolutionary “Third Core Device”
Turkey Weighs Citizens in Public as Erdoğan Launches National Slimming Campaign
Saudi-Spanish Business Forum Commences in Riyadh
Saudi Arabia and Spain Sign MoU to Boost SME Sectors
UK Suspends Trade Talks with Israel Amid Gaza Offensive
Iran and U.S. Set for Fifth Round of Nuclear Talks Amid Rising Tensions
Russia Expands Military Presence Near Finland Amid Rising Tensions
Indian Scholar Arrested in Crackdown Over Pakistan Conflict Commentary
Israel Eases Gaza Blockade Amid Internal Dispute Over Military Strategy
President Biden’s announcement of advanced prostate cancer sparked public sympathy—but behind closed doors, Democrats are in panic
A Chinese company made solar tiles that look way nicer than regular panels!
Indian jet shootdown: the all-robot legion behind China’s PL-15E missiles
The Chinese Dragon: The True Winner in the India-Pakistan Clash
Australia's Venomous Creatures Contribute to Life-Saving Antivenom Programme
The Spanish Were Right: Long Working Hours Harm Brain Function
Did Former FBI Director Call for Violence Against Trump? Instagram Post Sparks Uproar
US and UAE Partner to Develop Massive AI Data Center Complex
Apple's $95 Million Siri Settlement: Eligible Users Have Until July 2 to File Claims
US and UAE Reach Preliminary Agreement on Nvidia AI Chip Imports
President Trump and Elon Musk Welcomed by Emir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim with Cybertruck Convoy
Strong Warning Issued: Do Not Use General Chatbots for Medical, Legal, or Educational Guidance
Saudi Arabia Emerges as Global Tech Magnet with U.S. Backing and Trump’s Visit
This was President's departure from Saudi Arabia. The Crown Prince personally escorted him back to the airport.
NVIDIA and Saudi Arabia Launch Strategic Partnership to Establish AI Centers
Trump Meets Syrian President Ahmad al-Shara in Historic Encounter
Trump takes a blow torch to the neocons and interventionists while speaking to the Saudis
US and Saudi Arabia Sign Landmark Agreements Across Multiple Sectors
Why Saudi Arabia Rolled Out a Purple Carpet for Donald Trump Instead of Red
Elon Musk Joins Trump Meeting in Saudi Arabia
Trump says it would be 'stupid' not to accept gift of Qatari plane
Quantum Computing Threatens Bitcoin Security
×