The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency has today announced it has approved Novavax’s Covid vaccine for 12 to 17-year-olds.

The vaccine, called Nuvaxovid, was approved for use by that age group after the MHRA reviewed its safety, quality and effectiveness. The vaccine was authorised for over-18s earlier this year.

“In reaching this decision, we have taken advice from the government’s independent scientific advisory body, the Commission on Human Medicines,” said MHRA chief executive June Raine.

Nuvaxovid was passed for use for 12 to 17-year-olds in Northern Ireland under a European Medicines Agency conditional marketing authorisation in July.