PETALING JAYA: The Covid-19 Immunisation Task Force has given the green light for those aged 17 and below to be inoculated against the virus. Sarawak took the lead yesterday with Labuan and the Klang Valley to follow suit.

       Here are examples of other countries that have gone ahead to approve the use of Covid-19 vaccines for adolescents.

       In May, the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the Pfizer vaccine for children aged 12 to 15.

       Last year, it had allowed vaccinations for those aged 16 and older. It reviewed a study with over 2,260 participants aged 12 to 15, in which half received the vaccine while another half received a placebo.

       A week later, it was found that there were no Covid-19 cases among the children who were vaccinated while 16 infections were found among those given the placebo.

       In the United Kingdom, vaccination is approved for everyone aged 16 and above. As of Aug 23, all teenagers aged 16 and 17 in England were vaccinated.

       Children aged 12 to 15 who were more vulnerable to falling seriously ill from a Covid-19 infection or who were living with high-risk Covid-19 susceptible adults, will be encouraged to get the vaccine in the coming weeks.

       In Ireland, a portal to register children between ages 12 and 15 for a vaccine opened on Aug 11. Within the first 48 hours, more than 75,000 appointments were recorded.

       As for Northern Ireland, those aged 16 and 17 have been able to receive the vaccine for about a month now.

       France, one of the first countries to open vaccinations for those over 12 years of age, has recorded more than 56% of adolescents who have received at least one dose of vaccine since its launch on June 15.

       Similarly, Canada, Hong Kong, Japan, Australia and Switzerland have given the green light for the Pfizer vaccine to be administered in children as young as 12.

       As for Italy, those aged 12 and 18 have been able to get their jabs without an appointment since Aug 16, as the country ramps up on vaccinating most of its teens before they return to school later this month.

       Germany has permitted vaccines for all children since Aug 16 in the wake of the spread of the Delta variant.

       In Denmark, its health authority gave the nod to vaccinate children aged 12 to 15 in June, with vaccinations starting in July.

       Israel also approved Covid-19 vaccines for teens aged 12 years or over, and vulnerable children aged five to 11 with serious background illnesses.

       In Singapore, the health authority approved the Pfizer vaccine for teens aged 12 years and above.

       Over in China, vaccines have been approved for children as young as three.