Is the Covid jab a good idea for children?

With kids as young as five now receiving Covid vaccinations, here are the arguments for and against from experts and parents

As part of the latest phase of the NHS vaccination drive, all children between five and 11 in England are being offered Covid-19 jabs. The programme, already rolled out in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, means almost five million kids can now be protected from potential infection.

GP Dr Rachel Ward insists it’s important to remember that some children can become critically ill from Covid, although most show only mild symptoms.

“Thankfully, most children do not get seriously unwell from Covid, but some are hospitalised,” she says. “We also know that children can get long

Covid – and there is strong evidence that vaccination reduces your risk of developing this potentially debilitating condition.”

She points out that the vaccine can benefit children who have already had the virus. “Having an infection does lead to natural immunity,” she explains. “But that does not mean vaccination isn’t beneficial. People respond differently to infections and the level of immune response cannot be predicted. Studies have shown that natural immunity to Covid is improved if you receive a vaccine despite previous infection.”

Government guidance recommends children receive two doses of the low-dose Pfizer-biontech vaccine, which contains a third of the adult dose, 12 weeks apart. For children with medical conditions, or those living with someone with a weakened immune system, this period is reduced to eight weeks.

Parents and carers wanting to vaccinate their children should wait to be contacted by their local NHS team.