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British health authorities have recommended that children aged 12 to 15 years be vaccinated against the coronavirus. However, taking into account the effectiveness and side effects of the vaccine, we suggested a single dose instead of 2 doses.



Kwak Sang-eun is a reporter.



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British health authorities have added a new number of young people aged 12 to 15 years to be recommended for vaccination against COVID-19.



The decision was made after considering not only the immune aspect but also the adverse effects of disruption in school operation on the mental health of adolescents.



[June Lane/Dr., UK Pharmaceutical and Health Care Products Regulatory Agency: Because the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks, vaccination is also recommended for 12-15 year olds.]



Vaccination Vaccine is Pfizer, a vaccine for that age group as early as next week. Vaccination is expected to begin.



However, the number of vaccinations was recommended once, not twice as in adults.



This is because, while a single dose provides most of the benefits of the vaccine, the second dose slightly increases the risk of side effects from myocarditis, especially in younger men.



In the midst of this, eminent scientists from the US Food and Drug Administration FDA and World Health Organization WHO published an expert review in the famous British medical journal The Lancet that a booster shot of the COVID-19 vaccine, that is, a booster dose, is unnecessary at this time.



They warned that the evidence so far shows that the vaccine is still effective in preventing severe infections even after several months of vaccination, and that if the booster shot is started prematurely, rare side effects of the vaccine, such as myocarditis, may also occur. .