Risk of severe illness, death in children very low: UK study

London, July 9

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The risk of severe illness and death from Covid is extremely low in children and teenagers, according to a new comprehensive analysis of public health data released on Friday by researchers in the UK.

However, the analysis also found that Covid increases the likelihood of serious illness in the most vulnerable young people, those with pre-existing medical conditions and severe disabilities, although these risks remain low overall.

The preliminary findings, published in three new pre-print studies led by University College London (UCL), the University of Bristol, University of York and the University of Liverpool, will be submitted to the UK’s Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI), the Department for Health and Social Care (DHSC)and the World Health Organisation (WHO), to inform vaccine and shielding policy for the under-18s.