Final decision on vaccines for children aged 12-15 expected within days in UK
September 4, 2021, 4:14 am

Final decision on vaccines for children aged 12-15 expected within days in UK

Covid-chilldren

The BBC reported according to a source that as UK ministers await key advice from the UK's chief medical officers, the government believes there is a "strong case" for vaccinating healthy children aged 12-15.

According to the BBC, the four scientific advisers are due to make a decision within days.

On Friday, JCVI scientists decided against recommending the measure, saying that offering the jab to pupils provided only "marginal" gains.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation said on Friday that children were at such a low risk from the virus that jabs would offer only a marginal benefit.

It comes as millions of pupils have returned to school for the autumn term.

Health Secretary Sajid Javid has asked the chief medical officers - covering the four nations of the UK - to consider the rollout of the vaccine to 12 to 15-year-olds "from a broader perspective".

This means the rate of transmission will be a key consideration for the four chief medical officers, as will the wider impact on schools and society.

A government source told the BBC: "We believe there is strong case to vaccinate but await the advice of the chief medical officers."

BBC health correspondent Nick Triggle said: "Ministers have let it be known they are very keen on getting this age group vaccinated - both through their public pronouncements and privately behind the scenes."

The BBC said, in Scotland, pupils started returning to the classroom from 11 August.

However, cases doubled in a week, with the surge blamed partly on the return of schools after the holidays.

And last year, the surge that led to England's second nationwide lockdown gathered pace in September as firstly schools and secondly universities reopened.

According to the BBC, the government has maintained throughout the pandemic that it will follow the advice of scientists.

Source: BBC

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BENEFIT, the Kingdom’s innovator and leading company in Fintech and electronic financial transactions service, has sponsored the BuildHer CityHack 2025 Hackathon, a two-day event spearheaded by the College of Engineering and Technology at the Royal University for Women (RUW).
Aimed at secondary school students, the event brought together a distinguished group of academic professionals and technology experts to mentor and inspire young participants.
More than 100 high school students from across the Kingdom of Bahrain took part in the hackathon, which featured an intensive programme of training workshops and hands-on sessions. These activities were tailored to enhance participants’ critical thinking, collaborative problem-solving, and team-building capabilities, while also encouraging the development of practical and sustainable solutions to contemporary challenges using modern technological tools.
BENEFIT’s Chief Executive Mr. Abdulwahed AlJanahi, commented: “Our support for this educational hackathon reflects our long-term strategic vision to nurture the talents of emerging national youth and empower the next generation of accomplished female leaders in technology. By fostering creativity and innovation, we aim to contribute meaningfully to Bahrain’s comprehensive development goals and align with the aspirations outlined in the Kingdom’s Vision 2030—an ambition in which BENEFIT plays a central role.”
Professor Riyadh Yousif Hamzah, President of the Royal University for Women, commented: “This initiative reflects our commitment to advancing women in STEM fields. We're cultivating a generation of creative, solution-driven female leaders who will drive national development. Our partnership with BENEFIT exemplifies the powerful synergy between academia and private sector in supporting educational innovation.”
Hanan Abdulla Hasan, Senior Manager, PR & Communication at BENEFIT, said: “We are honoured to collaborate with RUW in supporting this remarkable technology-focused event. It highlights our commitment to social responsibility, and our ongoing efforts to enhance the digital and innovation capabilities of young Bahraini women and foster their ability to harness technological tools in the service of a smarter, more sustainable future.”
For his part, Dr. Humam ElAgha, Acting Dean of the College of Engineering and Technology at the University, said: “BuildHer CityHack 2025 embodies our hands-on approach to education. By tackling real-world problems through creative thinking and sustainable solutions, we're preparing women to thrive in the knowledge economy – a cornerstone of the University's vision.”