Ministers could defy JCVI and go ahead with Covid jabs for all 12- to 15-year-olds

Official vaccine advisers consider margin of benefit too small to support vaccination of entire age group

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Ministers could for the first time defy the advice of their official vaccine advisers and push ahead with Covid jabs for all 12- to 15-year-olds, after the scientific body concluded the net health benefit in vaccinating the age group was too small.

In a move which highlights a growing divide between government and scientific advisers over the next phase of the vaccination programme, ministers will seek extra evidence which may help overturn the watchdog's verdict.