The UK's medicines regulator has today confirmed that the coronavirus vaccine has been authorised to be administered for babies as young as six months.
On Tuesday, Britain's health regulator announced that it is authorising the Pfizer vaccine for infants aged six months to four years old.
A low dose meets safety, quality and effectiveness standards, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said.
But while this decision has been made, it opens the door for the country's vaccine advisers to choose whether the jab should be given to under-fives, as part of the country's vaccination strategy.
While the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) authorised the vaccine, whether it is eventually deployed in this age group depends on a recommendation from the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI).
This board is responsible for advising UK health departments on which shots should be used as part of the national vaccination programme.
The Pfizer vaccine has been tailored for use in this age group, as it contains a lower dose version than the one used in children aged five to 11 years.
Lower doses are given to children to avoid complications, such as myocarditis, which is a rare condition that caused health chiefs concern early on in the pandemic.
This comes after the MHRA reviewed data from an ongoing clinical trial, based on administering a small dose - 3microgram - of the vaccine to 4,526 infants.
The jab itself will be given as three injections in the upper arm, with the first two doses given three weeks apart.
This is then followed by a third dose, which is administered at least two months after the second dose.
A statement released on the Government’s website on Tuesday morning said: “The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has authorised the vaccine in this new age group after it has been found to meet the UK regulator’s standards of safety, quality and effectiveness, with no new safety concerns identified.
“This decision has been endorsed by the Commission on Human Medicines, after a careful review of the evidence.”
For comparison, adults in Britain get a dose 10 times stronger.
And older children, who are allowed to be vaccinated in the UK, get given a dose of up to 10micrograms.
Many countries, including the US, China and Israel, already offer vaccines to kids under five.
US officials rolled out this version of Pfizer's shot for the same age group earlier this year.
And months ago, EU regulators also endorsed the use of Covid vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna or under-fives.
Which children can get the Covid-19 vaccine?
All children aged five and over can get a their first and second dose of a Covid vaccine in the UK.
They will be given either the Pfizer or Moderna jab, and any side effects are usually mild.
Over-five's with a severely weakened immune system can get a third dose. And children at high-risk can also get booster jabs, if needed.
Meanwhile, vaccines have yet to be approved for under-five's by the JCVI.
