Britain’s health regulator has approved Moderna’s Covid vaccine for use in children and young people aged 12 to 17 years. It is the second Covid-19 jab authorised for those aged between 12 and 17, after the Pfizer vaccine.

The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said that it is up to the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation to advise the government on whether children in this age group should be given the Moderna jab.

The MHRA said that the jab – also known as the Spikevax vaccine – is “safe and effective in this age group”.

At present, children aged 12 to 15 are only offered the Pfizer Covid-19 jab if they are considered to be clinically vulnerable.

This week it was announced that all 16- and 17-year-olds in England will be offered the chance to book in for their first jab before 23 August.

Dr June Raine, MHRA chief executive, said: “I am pleased to confirm that that the Covid-19 vaccine made by Moderna has now been authorised in 12- to 17-year-olds. The vaccine is safe and effective in this age group.

“We have in place a comprehensive safety surveillance strategy for monitoring the
safety of all UK-approved Covid-19 vaccines and this surveillance will include the
12- to 17-year age group.”

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: “We welcome the news that Moderna’s vaccine has been approved as safe and effective for people aged 12 and over.

“As has been the case with all other approvals, we will now be guided by the independent JCVI and have asked for its formal recommendation on whether to administer this vaccine to people aged 12 to 17.”