England’s top doctor says transmission of COVID-19 highest in children

LONDON, Sept. 22 (Reuters) – England’s chief medical officer Chris Whitty said on Wednesday that children are currently driving the transmission of COVID-19 and that without vaccination almost every 12 to 15 year olds would be infected at some point. point.

“There is certainly significant transmission in this age group. In fact, the age group we are talking about is the one in which the highest rate of transmission is occurring right now, as far as we can tell,” Whitty told lawmakers at a press conference. session on the decision to offer COVID-19 vaccines to children aged 12 to 15.

All children in this age group will be offered a COVID-19 vaccine after Whitty and her colleagues said last week that children would benefit from reduced disruption to their education. [nL8N2QF3AY]

Whitty said the recommendation only focused on benefits for children between the ages of 12 and 15 and was not made for political reasons or for the benefit of more vulnerable adults.

He added that while the vaccination program would cause disruption to schools, it would be offset by the likely disruption caused if children caught COVID-19.

“The vast majority of children who haven’t had COVID now are going to have it at some point,” he said.

“It won’t be necessary in the next two or three months, but sooner or later they will have it because it’s incredibly contagious… the vaccination will reduce that risk.”

Reporting by Alistair Smout; Editing by Kate Holton

Our Standards: Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.