FAQs
What is the estimated survival rate of a child infected with COVID-19 without being vaccinated?
Of the 12,023,568 children (<18 years) in England, COVID-19 infection contributed to 25 deaths during the first year of the pandemic. The findings identified a survival rate of greater than 99.995%; equivalent to 2 deaths per million children in England.
Of the 25 children that died, how many had a chronic underlying health condition?
76% of those 25 children that died from COVID-19 had chronic underlying health conditions.
Of the 25 children that died, how many did you estimate had asthma, cystic fibrosis, type 1 diabetes or down syndrome?
There were no deaths identified in children with these conditions. However, three of the children with complex neurodisability had a historic diagnosis of asthma but the asthma diagnosis was not considered to contribute to death.
What are the long-term side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine in children?
The potential long-term side effects are currently unknown.
Are there any other benefits to vaccinating children?
The 4 UK Chief Medical Officers looked at wider public health benefits and risks. Of these, the most important in this age group was impact on education through transmission of COVID-19 and subsequent impact on mental health, including operational issues.
How effective is the vaccine at reducing the spread of transmission of the COVID-19 Delta variant in schools?
The JCVI is of the view that any impact on transmission may be relatively small, given the lower effectiveness of the vaccine against infection with the Delta variant.
What advice did the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) give to the UK government in relation to the margin of benefit of vaccination, primarily from a child’s health perspective?
“The margin of benefit, based primarily on a health perspective, is considered too small to support advice on a universal programme of vaccination of otherwise healthy 12 to 15-year-old children at this time.”
One of the known side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine in children is Myocarditis, an inflammation of the heart muscle. Severe myocarditis weakens your child’s heart and can lead to a stroke or heart attack. What is the risk of myocarditis following a second dose of the vaccine?
The total upper risk figure for myocarditis is 51 children per million. Reports of post-vaccination myocarditis are very rare, but potentially serious and still in the process of being researched.
Why did Sajid Javid, the Health & Social Care Secretary approve the rollout of the child vaccination in schools?
Health and Social Care Secretary, Sajid Javid said:
To protect young people from catching COVID-19, reducing transmission in schools and keeping pupils in the classroom.
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