The UK’s National Health Service is warning “rogue” health trusts that action will be taken after one local authority began offering healthy 16 and 17-year-olds Covid vaccines against official guidance.
In a series of online adverts, Rochdale, in north-west England, advertised drop-in clinics at which healthy teenagers could obtain the shots.
Authorities in the borough, part of Greater Manchester, told The National it was motivated by the rising number of cases of the new Delta variant in the area.
“Our borough is one of the areas of the country worst affected by coronavirus and our infection rate is now approaching that seen in Bolton a few weeks ago,” a spokesman for the NHS clinical commissioning group and Rochdale council said.
“Among our younger age groups, the rate is almost 1,000 cases per 100,000 people and we are again in a desperate race to stay ahead of this virus.
An NHS source said action would be taken against those who “go rogue” and that health teams were expected to follow the national guidance.
The UK body overseeing the programme, the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, has yet to make a decision on whether healthy children in this age group should receive it.
Presently, only those of this age who are classified as vulnerable are eligible.
“Many 16 and 17-year-olds with underlying health conditions have already been vaccinated but many other younger adults who are at risk for different reasons are falling outside national protocols.
“On that basis, and to avoid any vaccine wastage, a multi-agency decision was taken with clinical leads to temporarily expand the qualifying criteria for at-risk 16 and 17-year-olds for our clinics this weekend, but following discussions we have now revised our plans.”
Its initial adverts had made the vaccine open to anyone in that age group.
“If you’re aged 16 or over and not got an existing appointment you can drop into one of the extra vaccine clinics for your jab,” it said.
“You do not need an appointment to attend any of the vaccine clinics.”
Rochdale has opened a drive-through vaccine centre at its main football ground.
On Monday, the neighbouring borough of Bury made clear it would not offer younger teenagers the vaccine.
“The current guidance is that the vaccine is only offered to people aged 16 and 17 if they are clinically vulnerable, are a young carer or health and social care worker,” Bury council tweeted.
“We are encouraging all people aged 18+ to come forward and receive their vaccination as soon as they can.”
It is understood some areas of London have also been allowing this age group to have the vaccine.
The UK medicines regulator, the MHRA, approved the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for 12 to 15-year-olds last month and has given the green light for its use by those aged 16 and 17. This followed similar decisions from regulators in Europe and the US.
Japan, the UAE, Israel, China, Canada and the Philippines are also immunising those aged 12 and over.
In America, more than 30 per cent of 12 to 15-year-olds have received their first dose, the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention said.
A recent study published in medical journal The Lancet estimated that less than two in every million coronavirus cases in those aged 19 and under resulted in death.
Scientists on the JCVI are considering whether the risks of side effects of the vaccine could outweigh the benefits.
Last week, Professor Anthony Harnden, deputy chairman of the JCVI, told BBC Radio 4’s Today programme the committee needed to be “absolutely sure” it was “sensible” to offer children the vaccine.
“JCVI are very aware of the issues surrounding both the pros and cons of children,” receiving it, he said.
“Clearly, we’re going to have to make a view on it over the forthcoming weeks.”
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said he hopes a decision will be made before the new school term starts in September.
In May, World Health Organisation director general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged countries to give their vaccines to the Covax initiative not children.
“I understand why some countries want to vaccinate their children and adolescents, but right now I urge them to reconsider and to instead donate vaccines to Covax,” he said.
Covax, which is run by the WHO and other organisations, is aimed at ensuring that developing countries have access to vaccines.
