Sajid Javid said that the Covid vaccine booster program and jabs for 12-year-olds to 15-year olds could be approved within days. He also confirmed that young people will be allowed to decide whether or not to be vaccinated.
According to the health secretary, he expects to hear from the UK's four chief medical officers over the next few days their opinions on whether vaccines should be mass-rolled out to children between 12 and 15 years old.
Sky News' Javid said: I want them to have the space they need. It is their independent opinion and that is exactly what it should. However, I expect to hear back from them within the next few days.
He stated that consent would be sought from parents for 12- to 15-year olds, as it has been for decades. However, if parents and children cannot agree, the view of the child would prevail, as long as they can make a decision.
He stated that if there are differences of opinion between the parents and the child, then the schools vaccination service has specialists who can help. They would often sit down with the parents and children and attempt to reach a consensus.
If that fails, the child will win as long as we feel the child is competent to make the decision.
After government advisors on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation(JCVI) decided not to support the move on health grounds, the chief medical officers are now deciding whether Covid-19 should be given to children between 12 and 15.
Advisors stated that although the health benefits of vaccinating all age groups were greater than the risks, there is not enough evidence to support universal vaccination for healthy 12- to-15-year-olds.
They claimed that their remit didn't cover wider issues like disruptions to schools. This is being investigated by the chief medical officers.
Javid stated that he was confident that the UK would offer a booster program so that older adults can receive a third jab. The JCVI will provide advice in the coming days.
Sky News was informed by him that they are still waiting for final advice from the JCVI on who will get it and when.
He stated that the advice would include information about whether people should receive different vaccines than the ones they already have or the same. He also said, "I am confident that we will be able to start the booster program this month."
