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New Zealand’s medicines regulator Medsafe has granted provisional approval of the Pfizer vaccine for youth aged 12 to 15, and Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern expects cabinet approval to follow next week. Once the cabinet approves, 12-15-year-olds will become eligible for vaccination towards the end of the year, after older groups have had their turn.
Although children are at lower risk of serious illness or death from COVID-19 than older people, it is still essential to vaccinate them.
The Medsafe approval is based on solid data showing the vaccine is safe and highly effective for this age group. It follows similar moves in Europe, the US and Canada.
In New Zealand, 265,000 children are in the 12-15 age group, accounting for just over 5% of the population. Add that to the 80% who are older than 16, and the Pfizer vaccine now has Medsafe approval for use in 85% of the population.
The vaccine is not mandatory and it’s likely not everyone will want to take it.
Source: PTI
