The TSA recently updated our range of covid-19 information pages on our website and on the TSA Support Line. This is following an update from the Joint Commission on Vaccines and Immunisation (JCVI) on their guidance around vaccinations of children aged 12 and over. These changes may mean that more children living with TSC will be eligible for the jab.

The update, added to our covid-19 Vaccine information and Under-16s pages, is also shared below. Should you have any further questions about covid-19 jabs for children, or any other TSC-related enquiry, don’t forget to contact the TSA Support Line.

Update:

The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine was approved in June 2021 by the UK regulator for use in children aged 12-15.

Covid-19 vaccines are not currently routinely recommended for children and young people under 16 years of age, and children have not been prioritised for vaccination. This is because:

1. There is limited data about how safe and effective these vaccines are in children yet, because they were not included in early clinical trials.
2. Almost all children with covid-19 have no symptoms or mild disease

However, the JCVI has widened the number of children aged 12 or over who will be offered a covid-19 vaccine, which may mean that some children living with TSC will now be eligible for a jab. The JCVI has recommended that children aged 12-15 should be offered the vaccine if they have:

• Severe neurodisabilities
• Immunosuppression (this may include someone taking any dose of everolimus)
• Profound and multiple or severe learning disabilities.

We are not yet clear on the timescale for rolling out vaccinations to this group of children. Each UK government must make plans for how they will offer eligible children a vaccine, including a clear timetable for implementing  the JCVI’s advice. We will update this page as more information becomes available.

Under previous JCVI guidance,  young people aged 16-17 with underlying health conditions which put them at risk of serious covid-19 should have already been offered the Pfizer vaccine. The JCVI also recommends that children and young people aged 12 to 17 who live with an immunosuppressed person (this may include someone taking a very high dose of everolimus) should be offered the vaccine.

The JCVI is not recommending routine vaccination for children outside of these age or risk groups.

If you are caring for a child aged 12-15 and you think they will now be eligible for vaccination, you should speak to your GP or hospital specialist for their advice.