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. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said in a statement that the jab was "safe and effective in this age group". 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. More than three-quarters (77%) have had two doses - a factor in the government lifting all remaining legal coronavirus restrictions in England on Monday. Health officials say vaccination has contributed to a fall in hospital admissions with more serious cases of Covid-19, even though infection rates have risen.

Source: News 24 August 17, 2021 18:00 UTC