<p>Britain's medicines watchdog on Tuesday said it had approved the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine for children aged 12 to 17, after previously giving the green light to Pfizer.</p>.<p>The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said in a statement that the jab was "safe and effective in this age group".</p>.<p>But it added it would now be up to government advisory body the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to recommend whether to start giving the jab.</p>.<p>Britain began its mass vaccination programme in December last year and has to date seen nearly 90 percent of all adults receive a first dose.</p>.<p>More than three-quarters (77 per cent) have had two doses -- a factor in the government lifting all remaining legal coronavirus restrictions in England on Monday.</p>.<p>Health officials say vaccination has contributed to a fall in hospital admissions with more serious cases of Covid, even though infection rates have risen.</p>.<p>Earlier this month, the government said it would offer jabs to all 16 and 17 year olds but unlike other countries, held off rolling out the programme to younger children.</p>.<p>The JCVI said only 12 to 15 year olds deemed vulnerable should receive a vaccine -- a more cautious approach than in the United States and the European Union.</p>.<p>They, as with older teens that are eligible, are being given the Pfizer/BioNTech shot.</p>.<p>The government has set a target of giving a first dose to 16 and 17 year olds by August 23, to give them some protection before the start of school in England and Wales in September.</p>
<p>Britain's medicines watchdog on Tuesday said it had approved the Moderna Covid-19 vaccine for children aged 12 to 17, after previously giving the green light to Pfizer.</p>.<p>The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said in a statement that the jab was "safe and effective in this age group".</p>.<p>But it added it would now be up to government advisory body the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) to recommend whether to start giving the jab.</p>.<p>Britain began its mass vaccination programme in December last year and has to date seen nearly 90 percent of all adults receive a first dose.</p>.<p>More than three-quarters (77 per cent) have had two doses -- a factor in the government lifting all remaining legal coronavirus restrictions in England on Monday.</p>.<p>Health officials say vaccination has contributed to a fall in hospital admissions with more serious cases of Covid, even though infection rates have risen.</p>.<p>Earlier this month, the government said it would offer jabs to all 16 and 17 year olds but unlike other countries, held off rolling out the programme to younger children.</p>.<p>The JCVI said only 12 to 15 year olds deemed vulnerable should receive a vaccine -- a more cautious approach than in the United States and the European Union.</p>.<p>They, as with older teens that are eligible, are being given the Pfizer/BioNTech shot.</p>.<p>The government has set a target of giving a first dose to 16 and 17 year olds by August 23, to give them some protection before the start of school in England and Wales in September.</p>
