The Children’s Covid Vaccines Advisory Group of more than 80 doctors, professors and scientists, has written to the UK’s JCVI, the CMOs and the health secretary to urge an immediate pause to the covid vaccine roll-out for children. It has since been signed by more than 300 British healthcare professionals.
Here is a copy of the letter in full.
Thursday, 10th February 2022
Professor Lim Wei Shen, JCVI and all members
Professor Sir Christopher Whitty, Chief Medical Officer
Rt Hon Sajid Javid
Secretary of State for Health and Social Care
Cc Rt Hon Boris Johnson, Prime Minister
We wrote to you and also the MHRA last month regarding urgent investigation of the acknowledged increase in all cause mortality in males aged 15-19 since the Pfizer covid vaccine rollout commenced in this age group in May 2021. ONS have acknowledged in the High Court in London, that the figure of 402 excess deaths is significantly higher than the previous 5 year average of 337 deaths. It has proved impossible to get the actual data. Indeed they stated it is probably an underestimate because of delays for coroners’ cases. This equates to at least two additional teenage boys dying each week of the roll-out, possibly more. It is thus very disappointing not to have received any response.
We are writing further to ask you to pause the vaccines for children while you undertake and publish an urgent review of the risk/benefit analysis. In August 2021 you concluded that there was no medical justification for vaccinating healthy 12-15-year-olds, with the authorisation based on an aim to reduce school closures. But this new safety signal and the impact of this uncertainty, must affect your assessment of the risk to benefits.
Since that date, much has changed. The latest omicron variant has been shown to have a much lower risk of serious illness, hospitalisations and deaths than the previous alpha and delta variants circulating at the time of the decision. This is true for children as well as adults, so given the extremely low risk for children in previous waves, any potential for benefit must surely have dwindled to virtually zero. Also, in your analysis you failed to take due regard to naturally-acquired immunity, now demonstrated and widely accepted to be superior to vaccine acquired immunity. Children have had high rates of infection throughout recent weeks with at least 80% now estimated to be immune. In addition, the efficacy of Pfizer against omicron compared to previous variants is reduced to the point where infection rates are now higher in the vaccinated than the unvaccinated removing any potential indirect benefit to immune-compromised family members and perversely creating an increased risk to contacts of the vaccinated.
On the risks side of the balance sheet, we have further information regarding myocarditis, with an occurrence rate of 1/2680 young men in Hong Kong, where unlike the UK, this was sought systematically from the start of their rollout. Indeed they paused their second dose, just as the UK moved from one to two doses. Data from the US also confirm high rates of 1/9443 in males aged 16-17 after their second dose. We still have no follow-up data on the increasing number of children reported from the US with significant abnormalities on their cardiac MRI scans. We also have worrying information on all-cause mortality by vaccination status, which even from the original adult Pfizer trial showed a higher mortality rate for the vaccinated group. Side effects are higher when vaccinating those already immune. Other side effects such as increased blood clots will all be playing a part in this balance of risk. Non-fatal adverse events, particularly neurological, have the potential to blight the lives of affected children. The latest information from the CDC is very worrying, that of 4149 injured children, 100 (2.41%) had a serious adverse event, 15/4149 (0.36%) had increased troponin (12 confirmed to be myocarditis), 12/4149 (0.29%) had seizures, 2/4149 (0.048%) died (being evaluated). This in itself is a reason to review. To clarify, this is 4149 non-serious adverse events and 100 serious adverse events reported in a total of ~8 million doses to this age group which is 1 in 80,000 but we know that VAERS is a gross underestimate.
Furthermore, there is increasing evidence of impairment of immune function particularly following multiple doses of vaccine. Israel is now seeing serious illness and death after the fourth vaccine dose. There is also new bio-distribution data showing that mRNA and spike protein, far from being eliminated within a few days, are still persisting for 60 days or more. We have no knowledge of the long-term implications of vaccinating children against what is now acknowledged to be a very mild illness for them, indeed with 50% having no symptoms whatsoever..
With the arrival of omicron, SARS-CoV-2 has moved from pandemic to endemic. If the current situation had existed six months ago, there would have been no case made for commencing routine rollout for healthy children. Now, at a time when it is proposed that even those testing positive for omicron do not need to isolate. If omicron is no risk to others, why vaccinate? The prospect now of widening the coverage to 5-11s would be all the more ludicrous. We should, like Norway & Sweden, make clear that vaccination for this age group is simply not necessary.
The time has now come to pause and acknowledge that there is no emergency for children and that for them the balance of benefit and risk now clearly favours natural immunity. On that basis the routine programme could and should be halted. Failure to act will lay you open to liability for ongoing harms.
We would like to meet with you and members of the JCVI urgently, in order to support you in taking stock of all of the pertinent new and emerging data.
Yours sincerely,
- Dr Rosamond Jones, MBBS, MD, FRCPCH, retired consultant paediatrician, convener CCVAG (Children’s Covid Vaccines Advisory Group)
- Professor Keith Willison, PhD, Professor of Chemical Biology, Imperial, London
- Professor David Livermore, BSc, PhD, Professor of Medical Microbiology, University of East Anglia
- Professor Anthony J Brookes, Professor of Genomics and Health Data Science, University of Leicester
- Professor Richard Ennos, MA, PhD. Honorary Professorial Fellow, University of Edinburgh
- Professor Angus Dalgleish, MD, FRCP, FRACP, FRCPath, FMed Sci, Professor of Oncology, St Georges Hospital, London
- Professor John Fairclough FRCS FFSEM retired Honorary Consultant Surgeon
- Professor Norman Fenton, CEng, CMath, PhD, FBCS, MIET, Professor of Risk Information Management, Queen Mary University of London
- Professor Anthony Fryer, PhD FRCPath, Professor of Clinical Biochemistry
- Lord Moonie, MBChB, MRCPsych, MFCM, MSc, House of Lords, former parliamentary under-secretary of state 2001-2003, former consultant in Public Health Medicine
- Dr Theresa Lawrie, MBBCh, PhD, Director, Evidence-Based Medicine Consultancy Ltd, Bath
- Dr John Flack, BPharm, PhD. Retired Director of Safety Evaluation, Beecham Pharma, Senior VP, Drug Discovery, SmithKline Beecham
- Dr Roland Salmon, MB BS, MRCGP, FFPH, Former Director, Communicable Disease Surveillance Centre Wales
- Dr Alan Mordue, MBChB, FFPH. Retired Consultant in Public Health Medicine & Epidemiology
- Dr Gerry Quinn, PhD. Postdoctoral researcher in microbiology and immunology
- Katherine MacGilchrist, BSc (Hons), MSc, CEO/Systematic Review Director, Epidemica Ltd.
- Mr James Royle, MBChB, FRCS, MMedEd, Colorectal surgeon
- Dr Livia Tossici-Bolt, PhD, Clinical Scientist
- Dr Elizabeth Evans MA(Cantab), MBBS, DRCOG, Retired Doctor
- Dr Rohaan Seth, Bsc (hons), MBChB (hons), MRCGP, Retired General Practitioner
- Dr Geoffrey Maidment, MD, FRCP, retired consultant physician
- Mr Malcolm Loudon, MBChB, MD, FRCSEd, FRCS(Gen Surg), MIHM,VR, Consultant Surgeon
- Dr Alan Black, MBBS, MSc, DipPharmMed, retired pharmaceutical physician
- Dr David Cartland, MBChB, BMedSci, General practitioner
- Dr Peter Chan, BM, MRCS, MRCGP, NLP, General Practitioner, Functional medicine practitioner
- Dr Greta Mushet, MBChB, MRCPsych, retired Consultant Psychiatrist in Psychotherapy
- Dr Samuel McBride, MBBCh, BAO, BSc, MSc, MRCP (UK) FRCEM, FRCP (Edinburgh), NHS Emergency Medicine & geriatricsMr Ian F Comaish, MA, BM BCh, FRCOphth, FRANZCO, Consultant ophthalmologist
- Mr Ian F Comaish, MA, BM BCh, FRCOphth, FRANZCO, Consultant ophthalmologist
- Dr Branko Latinkic, BSc, PhD, Reader in Biosciences
- Dr Helen Westwood MBChB MRCGP DCH DRCOG, General Practitioner
- Michael Cockayne, MSc, PGDip, SCPHNOH, BA, RN, Occupational Health Practitioner
- Mr Anthony Hinton, MBChB, FRCS, Consultant ENT surgeon, London
- Dr Tanya Klymenko, PhD, FHEA, FIBMS, Senior lecturer in Biomedical Sciences
- Dr Carmen Wheatley, DPhil, Orthomolecular Oncology
- Dr Charles Lane OBE, Molecular Biologist
- Mr Angus Robertson BSc (Med. Sci.) MB ChB FRCS(Ed) FFSEM(UK) Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Dr Jayne LM Donegan, MBBS, DRCOG, DCH, DFFP, MRCGP, General Practitioner
- Dr David Critchley, BSc, PhD in Pharmacology, 32 years’ experience in PharmaceuticalR&D
- Dr Keith Johnson, BA, D.Phil (Oxon), IP Consultant for Diagnostic Testin
- Julie Annakin, RN, Immunisation Specialist Nurse
- Rev Dr William J U Philip MB ChB, MRCP, BD, enior Minister The Tron Church, Glasgow, formerly physician specialising in cardiology
- Dr Jonathan Rogers MBChB (Bristol) MRCGP DRCOG Retired NHS General Practitioner
- Dr Pauline Jones, MB BS, Retired General Practitioner
- Dr Emma Brierly, MBBS, MRCGP, General Practitioner
- Dr Elizabeth Burton, MB ChB, Retired General Practitioner
- Dr Franziska Meuschel, MD, ND, PhD, LFHom, BSEM, Nutritional, Environmental and Integrated Medicine
- Dr Michael Bazlinton, MBCHB MRCGP DCH
- Dr Holly Young, BSc, MBChB, MRCP, Consultant Palliative Care Medicine
- Dr Julian Tomkinson, MBChB, MRCGP, General Practitioner, GP Trainer, PCME
- Dr David Bramble, MBChB, MRCPsych, MD, Consultant Psychiatrist
- Dr Christina Peers, MBBS, DRCOG, DFSRH, FFSRH, Menopause Specialist
- Dr Chris Newton, PhD, Biochemist working in immuno-metabolism
- Dr Christopher Exley, PhD, FRSB, Bioinoganic Chemist
- Dr Sarah Myhill, MBBS, Retired General Practitioner
- Jessica Righart, Senior Critical Care Scientist
- Dr Michael D Bell, MBChB, MRCGP, retired General Practitioner
- Dr Angharad Powell, MBChB, General Practitioner
- Dr Stephen Ting, MB CHB, MRCP, PhD, Consultant Physician
- Mr Ahmad K Malik, FRCS (Tr & Orth), Dip Med Sport, Consultant Trauma & Orthopaedic Surgeon
- Dr Catherine Hatton, MBChB, General Practitioner
- Dr Kulvinder S. Manik MBChB, MRCGP, MA(Cantab), LLM, Gray’s Inn
- Dr Stefanie Williams, MD, Dermatologist
- Kim Bull, Foundation Degree in Paramedic Science, Paramedic
- Margaret Moss, MA (Cantab), CBiol, MRSB, Director, The Nutrition and Allergy Clinic, Cheshire
- Dr Haleema Sheikh, MRCGP, General Practitioner
- James Cook, NHS Registered Nurse, Bachelor of Nursing (Hons), Master of Public Health (MPH)
- Dr Jonathan Engler, MBChB, LlB (Hons), DipPharmMed
- Dr Clare Craig, BMBCh, FRCPath, Pathologist
- Dr Ruth Wilde, MB BCh, MRCEM, AFMCP, Integrative & Functional Medicine Doctor
- John Collis, RN, Specialist Nurse Practitioner
- Dr Damien Downing, MBBS, MRSB, private physician
- Mr Lasantha Wijesinghe, FRCS, Consultant Vascular Surgeon
- Dr Claire Mottram, BSc Hons, MBChB, Doctor in General Practice
- Dr Ali Haggett, Mental health community work, 3rd sector, former lecturer in the history of medicine
- Dr Jenny Goodman, MA, MBChB, Ecological Medicine
- Suzanne Tomkinson BSc MSc CSci FIBMS Senior Biomedical Scientist (Clinical Biochemistry)
- Dr Felicity Lillingstone, IMD DHS PhD ANP, Doctor, Urgent Care, Research Fellow
- Dr Marco Chiesa, MD, FRCPsych, Consultant Psychiatrist & Visiting Professor, UCL
- Anna Phillips, RSCN, BSc Hons, Clinical Lead Trainer Clinical Systems (Paediatric Intensive Care)
- Dr Jason Lester, MRCP, FRCR, Consultant Clinical Oncologist
- Dr Sue de Lacy MBBS MRCGP AFMCP UK Integrative Medicine Doctor
- Dr David Morris, MBChB, MRCP (UK), General Practitioner
- Dr Andrew Isaac, MB BCh, Physician, retired
- Dr Renee Hoenderkamp, General Practitioner
- Dr Noel Thomas, MA, MBChB, DObsRCOG, DTM&H, MFHom, Retired Doctor
- Dr Fiona Martindale, MBChB, MRCGP, General Practitioner in out of hours
- Dr Zac Cox, BDS, LCPH, Dental Practitioner
- Mr Colin Natali, BSc(hons) MBBS, FRCS (Orth), Consultant Spinal Surgeon
- Dr Dean Patterson, MBChB, FRCP, Consultant Cardiologist
- General Practitioner
- Angie, Childrens registered nurse
- Angela Ballantine, Staff nurse Rgn, Bsc Hons.
- Tommy Santos, Dental Surgeon, BDS MSc
- Rebecca Lewis, Nurse
- Amanda Ince, Social Worker Dipsw, Bachelor Science Degree, Diploma Health and Social
- Rebekah Turner, Specialist community public health nurse , Registered Children’s Nurse
- Natalie Crockett, Health Visitor / Nurse
- Jolene Wood, Paramedic
- Matt Taylor, Paramedic
- Joanne Elizabeth Bocking, Registered Mental health nurse
- Joanne Lee, DipNT
- Julie Maxwell, Community Paediatrician MBBCh MRCPCH
- Kathy Gibb, RGN
- Fiona, Nurse
- Helen J. Martin, Healthcare Professional
- Jordon Smith, Qualified Dental Sedation Nurse
- Suzette Bakker, Support worker/carer
- Stefano Raponi, Senior Radiographer
- Jenny Minkley, Registered Midwife
- Alison Sabine, MbChB MRCP Consultant Rheumatologist
- Heather Preston, Registered Nurse
- Julie Slade, BSc (Hons) Children Nurse
- Rebecca Sonographer – PG Cert. BSc. BA.
- Matthew William Child, A&E middle grade doctor, GMC
- Karen Jackson, Retired Nurse
- Indie Eldridge, Holistic Therapist
- Stefanie Bradley, Paediatric nurse
- Malgorzata Orzechowska, General Practitioner
- Michelle Glascott, Nurse Consultant
- Dr Susannah Robinson, MBBS BSc MRCP MRCGP, General Practitioner
- Anna Smith, BSc, Registered nurse
- Katie Considine, Senior Paediatric staff nurse
- Dr Helen McArdle, BSc (hons), MBChB, General Practitioner
- Berriman, Occupational Therapist
- Jasjit Sekhon, Pharmacist MRpharms
- Sharon Clarke, RGN, Adult Nurse
- Karl Schroder, Paramedic
- Stephen Thompson, Staff Nurse
- Joanne Obrien, BSc MSc, Biomedical scientist specialising in microbiology and immunology
- Paula, Advance practitioner
- Lorraine Smith, Occupational Therapist
- Georgina Lambert, Registered nurse
- John Gilligan, Clinical Coder
- Theresa Hamblett, FdSc, Paramedic
- Louise Pyke, Clinical nurse specialist
- Dr Haleema Sheikh, MRCGP, General Practitioner
- Rachel Dewhurst, Practice nurse
- Hannah Januszczyk, Pharmacist
- Penny, Mental Health Nurse
- Dr Russell Newlove MBChB
- Liz Williams, Nurse
- Valeria Costa da Encarnação, staff nurse
- Jacqueline Smith, Psychotherapist (retired)
- Emma Todd, RN
- Sarah Ashmore, Physical therapist
- Firuza Senthi lnathan, Pharmacist
- Jenna Leith, RGN, ANP, MSc, Advanced nurse practitioner, Associate Clinical Lead
- Mike Fairclough, Headteacher
- Victoria Williams, RGN
- Jonathan McLean, BDS
- Katherine Hickey, RN, BSc, PGDip MSc.
- Dr Andrew Steele, GP Registrar MBChB BSc (Hons)
- Dr Kate Goodman, MBChB BSc(hons), Specialty Doctor in Elderly Care
- Joanne Foster, Dip Adult Nursing. Trainee nutritional therapist
- Alison Shearer, Registered Mental Nurse
- Sue, Psychotherapist, MSc
- Nick Dalton, Biology MSc, company director.
- Helen, Optical advisor
- Janis, HCSW
- Lisa Wadd, Specialist Speech & Language Therapist
- Laura Farrell, Registered Nurse
- Vernon Fernandes, Clinical Physiologist (Neuro), MSc, BSc
- Samantha Lees, Clinical Nurse Specialist CAMHS
- Hayley Dixon, Renal dialysis administrator
- Marie Davies, Mental health support
- Dalia Henderson, RGN
- Marcello Rossi, Pharmacist
- Elizabeth Goddard, Health Visitor/Public Health Nurse
- Dr Abby Astle, MB.BChir. BA(Cantab). DCH. DGM. MRCGP. General Practitioner
- Philip Price, BDS. Retired oral surgeon and GDP.
- Helen Poullet, Carer
- Terry Young, BSc (Hons), Retired Commercial Director
- Theresa Hughes, Homeopath
- Dr Ali Jahanshad, Consultant gastroenterologist
- Helen Dunn, Carer
- Jane Feeney, Consultant Child & Family Psychotherapist
- Jill Henderson, Nursery Nurse (NHS)
- Dr Hugh Charles Pollard, Retired General Medical Practitioner
- Gary Young, Mindfulness Teacher and Wellbeing Coach
- Myrna Hurley, Health and wellbeing support worker
- Dr Elyse Baril, General Practitioner
- Sharon Kuczera-Fulton, RGN
- Lauren Dalziel, Specialist Biomedical Scientist (NHS)
- Elisa De Santis, Advanced Neonatal Nurse Practitioner
- Ellen Calteau, Registered Dietitian
- Dr Carlota Rosales, MBBS MRCOG MRCGP
- Caroline Edwards, RN Theatre Scrub Nurse
- Mr Matei Dordea, Consultant Surgeon
- Yiota Papanikolaou, Homeopathy
- Allison Clarke, RGN
- Inês Cecília Duarte Caeiro, Registered Nurse
- Andy Charge, Nurse
- Mr J Bunni, M.B., Ch.B (Hons), Dip Lap Surg, FRCS [ASGBI Medal], Consultant Colorect
- Annabel, Physiotherapist CSP
- Karen Moore, Registered General Nurse
- Tina, Nurse
- Paul Davies, Childrens Fitness and Sports Coach
- Zoe Dockerty, Sports massage level 4 health care
- Maria Stan-Berende, Specialist pharmacist
- Shannah Jamieson, Healthcare
- Natalie Stephenson, Audiologist BSc (Hons)
- Carolyn Haddon, Solicitor
- Alexis Jones, Speech & Language Therapist
- Suzy, Homeopath
- Alison Collins, RN
- Dr Penny Mostyn, MBBS
- Jane Golding, Natural health practitioner, retired
- Dr Stewart Prestwich MBBS FRCA
- Anna PATCH, social worker
- Guy Busby, Senior support worker
- Carol Fitzroy-Bent, Pharmacy Technician. BTech in Pharmaceutical Sciences
- Rachel Campling, Child psychotherapist
- Dr Andra Moraretu, Medical Doctor
- Nichola Davies, Nurse Bhoomika Dave, Consultant podiatrist
- Cheryl Powell, Retired SRN
- Dr Katrina Young, Retired GP
- Gayle Hocking, Registered Paediatric Osteopath
- Jane Holt, Social worker Joanne Hill, Registered General Nurse Dip HEDr
- Richard Screen, Emergency Medicine Doctor
- Gaynor Summan, Senior NHS Sister, emergency care
- Raynette, Midwife
- Debbie Clarke, Registered Nurse RNLD
- Amy Conway, Physiotherapist
- Ayzaaz Akram, Dental Surgeon
- Dr Leroy A. Shervington, BSc, PhD, FHEA, FSC, Retired Medicinal/Analytical Chemist.
- Simon Elmer, Head of Research
- Simon, Psychotherapist, BSc (Hons), PG Diploma
- Claire Jarvis, Community support worker
- Claire Ganley RGN BSc (Hons)
- Elizabeth, Medical records clerk
- Taifa Armstrong, Midwife/Health Visitor
- Melissa Martindale, RMN
- Hayley Robertshaw, Midwife
- Liz Hopwood, Chartered physio
- Sheila Harper, Acupuncturist
- Hayley, MSW, NHS
- Sarah Thorpe, Enhanced Care Paramedic HCPC
- Gillian Fairley, Staff Nurse BN Adult Nursing
- Hannah Crichton, Registered Nurse, registered paramedic and trainee ACP
- Kelly Rowley, Dental Sedation Nurse
- Maria Callaghan, Psychotherapist MBACP
- Kelly Edwards, Children’s Nurse
- Emma Sloman, Assistant practitioner
- Jane Retired RGN and Health Visitor
- Alison Tier, RGN
- Margaret Stroud, Dentist ,BSc (Newcastle)BDS(Bristol)
- Sonia Walker HCA BAND Tranmer Director and Paediatric Acupuncturist
- Dr Gemma Kemp, MBBS FRCPath, Consultant Forensic Pathologist
- Steve Smith, Homeopath
- Nicola Dooley, Health visitor SCPHN RGN BN BSc
- Helen Auburn, Nutritional Therapist
- Dr Shireen Kassam, Consultant Haematologist, MD PhD
- Nadia Springthorpe, Health Visitor
- Dr Syed Mustafa Ali, Specialty Doctor in Psychiatry
- Doreen, Cardiographer
- Leaor Coleman, BSc Combined Health Studies
- Wendy Duffy, Clinical pharmacist
- Nicola Clapham, Nurse
- Colette Green, Physiotherapist
- Angela, Care worker
- Stephanie, Early years educator
- Helen, Speech therapy assistant
- Damien Cominos, HCPC Registered Paramedic
- Zoe fox, RGN, BSc (Hons) Registered adult nurse
- Penny Senner, Registered adult nurse
- Jemma Dale, Biomedical Scientist
- Dr Shahzad Hussain, General Practitioner
- Assum Mirza, Ward Clerk
- Dr Caroline Lapworth, General Practitioner MBChB
- Karen Thompson, RGN, Staff Nurse
- Nicholas Lee, Occupational Health Clinician, RGN (BN Hons), SCPHN (BSc Hons)
- Amanda English, Fitness Professional, Primary school teacher
- Janette, Nurse Practitioner
- Marlita Crause, Associate Dentist
- Hannah Hunter, Early years worker
- Amanda Henning, Practice Nurse RGN
- Mandy Garratt, MPharm, pharmaceuticals clinical research
- Violeta, Dentist
- Jonathan Eastwood, General Practitioner BSc MB ChB MRCGP
- Rodica Grigoras, RGN
- Claire, Nursing assistant
- David Smith, MSc, RN, Podiatrist, Director FootHouse ltd, Registered Nurse
- Sara Barron, RMN working with children and young people
- Lina Frances Brown, Pharmacy dispenser
- Sarah, MPharm, Pharmacist
- Sue lister, RN, Emergency nurse practitioner.
- Debra, Senior Physiotherapist
- Sean, Chartered Physiotherapist
- Heidi, Registered nurse
- Kayleigh Walls, Dental Nurse
- Dr Gabriella Day, MRCP, DCh, MRCGP, General Practitioner
- Petronela, Registered nurse, Msc Adult Nursing
- Helena Stephan, Psychotherapist (former general nurse)
- Karenza Fern Registered midwife
- Naomi, Registered Nurse