German children aged 12 -16 can have Covid Pfizer vaccine in June

Decision by the government - in anticipation of European regulatory approval - prompts vigorous debate

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German children from the age of 12 will be eligible for a Covid-19 inoculation from next month, the government has said, in anticipation of formal approval being given by the European regulator for the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine, which is currently available to those 16 and over.

Angela Merkel said on Thursday night, after a lengthy vaccine summit" with the leaders of the 16 Lander that every German citizen will have been offered a vaccine by 21 September and that now includes the 12- to 16-year-olds", who can endeavour to get a vaccine appointment from 7 June, either in a doctor's practice or at a vaccine centre".