The British Congenital Cardiac Association (BCCA) has today published a statement regarding COVID-19 vaccination in children.

It acknowledges that the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is not currently recommending vaccination in children with congenital heart disease aged 15 years or younger in the absence of the stated additional risk factors.

You can read the JCVI advice here.

Additional risk factors include children aged 12 to 15 with severe neurodisabilities, Down’s syndrome, immunosuppression and multiple or severe learning disabilities.

The JCVI also recommends that children and young people aged 12 to 17 who live with an immunosuppressed person should be offered the vaccine.

ECHO’s response to BCCA statement regarding COVID-19 vaccination in children:

At ECHO, whilst we are glad this latest guidance offers clarity to some, we recognise it will not reassure all. We are mindful that there are many families living with congenital heart disease who will be seeking reassurance about how to embrace the opening of restrictions.

ECHO recognises the challenges families are facing. We are also concerned about the wellbeing and mental health of families living with CHD, and the difficulties posed by long term isolation.

We therefore encourage families to embrace the opening of restrictions safely by following the current guidelines and recommendations. We strongly recommend families seek further guidance from their medical teams regarding concerns about the specific risks for their children if they are concerned.

You can find more information and resources on ECHO’s COVID-19 page.

BCCA (British Congenital Cardiac Association) statement:

“The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has issued new paediatric guidance on COVID-19 vaccination.

The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is today (19 July 2021) advising that children at increased risk of serious coronavirus (COVID-19) disease are offered a vaccine.

The JCVI is advising that children at increased risk of serious COVID-19 disease are offered the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine.

That includes children aged 12 to 15 with severe neurodisabilities, Down’s syndrome, immunosuppression and multiple or severe learning disabilities.

The JCVI also recommends that children and young people aged 12 to 17 who live with an immunosuppressed person should be offered the vaccine.

Currently, the JCVI is not recommending vaccination of children with congenital heart disease aged 15 years or younger in the absence of the additional risk factors outlined above. These recommendations will remain under review as more data becomes available.”

• read the full JCVI advice