The British health products regulator, the MHRA, approved the Pfizer vaccine for this age group in late December.

The United Kingdom will open a coronavirus vaccination program for children aged 5 to 11, the local governments responsible for health have announced. After Wales on Tuesday, England, Scotland and Northern Ireland announced this expansion of the vaccination program on Wednesday.

It follows the recommendations of the committee responsible for advising local governments (English, Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish) on vaccination, after the British health products regulator, the MHRA, approved the Pfizer vaccine for this age range.

However, the priority is to vaccinate vulnerable adults and young people.

British Health Minister Sajid Javid said: “Children aged 5-11 will be able to be vaccinated as part of a program starting in April, aimed at increasing protection against possible next waves of Covid-19.” , Responsible for England.

“Children with no underlying health conditions are at low risk of serious illness from Covid-19 and priority remains for the NHS”, British Public Health Service, “to offer vaccines and boosters to vulnerable adults and young people”, with At the same time, he said that due to other vaccination programs, the backlog caused by the epidemic should be completed.

As one of the countries hardest hit by the pandemic with 160,000 deaths, the United Kingdom began its vaccination campaign in December 2020. Since then, 91.3% of the population over the age of 12 have received the first dose, 85% the second and 66% the booster, according to the latest official figures published on Wednesday.