We welcomed the recent announcement, that the UK regulator concluded positive safety profile for Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine in 12-15 year olds.
We have been part of a global study analysing hospitalisation and mortality rates of individuals who have Down’s syndrome. The most recent analysis from T21RS seems to indicate that, although deaths of children who have Down’s syndrome globally are thankfully very rare, there are higher risks of hospitalisation. COVID-19 – T21RS
Whereas the current rules allow for vaccination of children under 16 (on a case by case basis, based upon a clinician’s direction) this happens quite rarely and many families have had to navigate a referral system, involving access to their paediatrician etc.
We immediately entered into a dialogue with The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation stating our wish for a swift recommendation that children who have Down’s syndrome aged between 12-15 should be routinely offered a vaccination .