Letter from UK health ministers to UK CMOs on COVID-19 vaccination of 12 to 15 year olds: 3 September 2021
Published 3 September 2021
© Crown copyright 2021
This publication is licensed under the terms of the Open Government Licence v3.0 except where otherwise stated. To view this licence, visit nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3 or write to the Information Policy Team, The National Archives, Kew, London TW9 4DU, or email: psi@nationalarchives.gov.uk.
Where we have identified any third party copyright information you will need to obtain permission from the copyright holders concerned.
This publication is available at https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/letter-from-uk-health-ministers-to-uk-cmos-on-covid-19-vaccination-of-12-to-15-year-olds/letter-from-uk-health-ministers-to-uk-cmos-on-covid-19-vaccination-of-12-to-15-year-olds-3-september-2021
To: UK Chief Medical Officers
Sent by email
3 September 2021
Dear UK Chief Medical Officers,
We are writing on behalf of the 4 nations of the UK following the recent JCVI discussions on 1 and 2 September regarding the COVID-19 vaccination of children and young people aged 12 to 15.
JCVI has updated its advice on this topic. This advice says that the committee is of the opinion that the health benefits from vaccination are marginally greater than the potential harms. However, that margin of benefit, based primarily on a health perspective, is considered too small to support advice on a universal programme of vaccination of otherwise healthy 12 to 15-year-old children at this time.
The JCVI’s advice goes on to suggest that the government may wish to take further advice, including on educational impacts, from the chief medical officers of the 4 nations, with representation from JCVI in these subsequent discussions.
We agree with the approach suggested by JCVI, and so we are writing to request that you take forward work (drawing on experts as you see fit) to consider the matter from a broader perspective, as suggested by the JCVI.
We will consider the advice from the CMOs of the 4 nations, building on the JCVI’s advice, in making our decision. Given the importance of this issue, we would be grateful if you could provide your advice as soon as possible.
Sajid Javid MP
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care, HM Government
Eluned Morgan AS/MS
Y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol
Minister for Health and Social Services, Welsh Government
Humza Yousaf MSP
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Scottish Government
Robin Swann MLA
Minister of Health, Northern Ireland Executive