UKHSA announces JCVI advice offering COVID-19 vaccination to clinically vulnerable children 6 months to 4 years

Today the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced the advice of the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to babies and children aged 6 months to 4 years who are in a clinical risk group.
Young boy getting vaccinated in his arm

On 6 April 2023 the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA) announced the advice of the JCVI to offer COVID-19 vaccinations to babies and children aged 6 months to 4 years who are in a clinical risk group (as defined in the Green Book). Those eligible should be offered two doses of the 3-microgram Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine, with an interval of 8 to 12 weeks between the first and second doses. Further advice regarding a potential third 3-microgram dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine will be issued in due course. Further information is on our COVID-19 vaccination for children and young people page.

Over one million children aged 6 months to 4 years in the United States have received at least one dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine since June 2022 with side effects being similar to other vaccines given in this age group.

The JCVI does not currently advise COVID-19 vaccination of children aged 6 months to 4 years who are not in a clinical risk group.

NHS England has confirmed it will begin offering vaccinations in England from mid-June 2023. Information regarding arrangements in the other UK nations will follow soon.

Parents should wait to be contacted before coming forward.