COVID-19 vaccinations being offered to children: FOI release

Information requested

Why (COVID-19 vaccinations) are being offered to children (or anyone for that matter)?

Why are you knowingly pushing for people to have these experimental injections?

Are you aware of this Pfizer document?

Why invite children for such an injection when it's been published (13/4/2022) that it's not recommended for children younger than 12 but send invites out anyway? If it's not recommended why invite people's children to get it?

Response

In answer to your questions: 

NHS Scotland will only use a vaccine if it meets the required standards of safety and effectiveness. 

Clinical experts have given careful consideration to the health benefits of vaccinating different age groups including children, as well as potential educational benefits and the likely impact on NHS services. They concluded that the benefits of vaccinating those 5 years old and over outweigh the risks. 

The Scottish Government’s decision making in responding to COVID-19 is guided by the latest scientific evidence from the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE), advice from Health Protection Scotland and our Chief Medical Officer. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) provides advice on immunisation to all UK Health Departments, including on the efficacy and safety of vaccines. 

The Scottish Government follows the JCVI’s latest advice on the offer of vaccination of children and young people aged 5-11 against COVID-19: JCVI statement on vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 years old - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk). 

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has also found the Pfizer vaccine safe and effective: UK regulator approves use of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in 5 to 11-year olds - GOV.UK (www.gov.uk) 

Further information on vaccination is available at NHS Scotland: The coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine (nhsinform.scot). 

The Scottish Government continues to follow the MHRA's guidance, as the UK-wide regulator with responsibility for the safety of medicines and vaccines. The MHRA has approved coronavirus vaccines for use in the UK. Suspected side effects can be reported through the Yellow Card website. 

Our main priority is to reduce COVID-19 related hospitalisations and deaths, and vaccination remains one of the most effective ways to achieve this. The vaccination programme has already saved thousands of lives and prevented thousands more hospital admissions with serious COVID disease. This is based on real world evidence collected by Public Health England and Public Health Scotland that vaccines not only prevent serious COVID-19 disease but also reduce transmission of the virus and hence reduce spread. 

While the Scottish Government strongly recommends that those eligible to receive vaccines should do so, vaccination is not mandatory. 

About FOI

The Scottish Government is committed to publishing all information released in response to Freedom of Information requests. View all FOI responses at http://www.gov.scot/foi-responses.