Would Vaccination Cure Covid in Schools?

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In the last week of january this year, more than one in eight primary school children in england were infected with covian. I think that's the highest prevalence for any age group we've seen at any stage in the pandemic. Vi decided that the evidence falls on the side of benefit, in favour of vaccinating this age group, the healthy five to 11 year olds. The vaccine causes side effects in all age groups - headaches, malays, fevers and feeling unwell for a day or two.

When the announcement came last week that all children aged five to 11 in England will be offered a Covid vaccine, emphasis was placed on parental decision-making. But with factors to consider including disease severity, transmission, long Covid and vaccine side-effects, for many parents and guardians this may not be an easy choice. Ian Sample speaks to Prof Adam Finn about how the evidence stacks up, and what parents should be thinking about when deciding whether to vaccinate their five- to 11-year-olds against Covid-19. Help support our independent journalism at theguardian.com/sciencepod