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TO: Boris Johnson PM, Mark Drakeford FM, Nicola Sturgeon FM, Paul Gican MLA,
Chris Whitty CMO, Dr Frank Atherton CMO, Dr Gregor Smith CMO, Dr Michael McBridge CMO
Sajid Javid MP and Eluned Morgan MS
AND: JCVI, MHRA, Children’s Commissioners and Children’s Charities
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]We are writing as professionals, medics, academics, parents, grandparents, and members of the public to express our grave concerns about suggestions to extend the Covid-19 vaccination programme to children. We believe this to be a hasty step that is uncalled for under present circumstances.
You have been clear that society can reopen once the vulnerable have been offered vaccination against Covid-19. This has now been achieved. All the highest risk groups have now been vaccinated and the Government’s own data confirms that 98% of over 60s have antibodies from either vaccination or infection.[1] The NHS has been protected and we are no longer in a crisis situation. Whilst the very old and very frail will, sadly, always be at risk of serious illness, our children are the future. Children’s lives have been put on hold for over a year already at great cost to their physical and mental wellbeing and education.  We must not ask them to suffer further harm for the sake of adults.
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Limited Benefits v Unknown Harms, Ethics and Efficacy
Thankfully, the evidence shows that children and young people are minimally affected by Covid-19. Vaccinating children, then, is of limited direct benefit to them but for the primary purpose of protecting adults. However, medical treatment cannot be justified if it poses a risk to the individual which is greater than the harm it protects against and this approach would mark a significant departure from established principles of medical ethics. Kate Bingham of the Government Vaccine Task Force said last October, “we just need to vaccinate everyone at risk….there’s going to be no vaccination of people under 18.”[2]
Furthermore, many of the Covid-19 vaccines involve new technology that represents a radical departure from previous forms of the vaccine. We should be especially cautious about using new technologies on our children. Novel vaccines fast-tracked to market have in the past caused devastating harm – we draw your attention, for example, to the many children who now live with severe nervous system injuries caused by the Swine Flu vaccine which was given to children in 2009-10 before being withdrawn.[3][3.1] In another recent example, Dengvaxia, a new vaccine against Dengue Fever, was rolled out to children ahead of the full trial outcomes, and 19 children died of possible antibody-dependent enhancement before the vaccine was withdrawn.[4]
We are aware that many medical doctors and researchers have warned about a variety of potential dangers to children from Covid-19 vaccines. In particular, we refer you to the Open Letter[5] written to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) as reported in the Daily Telegraph on 18 May 2021[6], which described the plan to vaccinate children as “irresponsible, unethical and unnecessary”. We urge you to re-read that letter.
It was further reported in the press on 23rd May that some teenagers and young adults who received Covid-19 vaccines have experienced heart inflammation.[7] The aforementioned letter informs you that there have now been a number of child deaths associated with covid vaccination in the U.S., despite these vaccines only being given to children within trials and a very recent rollout to 16-17 year olds. Repeating mistakes of the past with the Covid-19 vaccines would not only be devastating for the children and families affected but would risk fuelling vaccine hesitancy for other critical childhood vaccination programmes where there is a direct benefit for the child.
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Fully Informed Consent
Fully informed consent is the bedrock of medical ethics and should underpin all vaccination programmes, but by contrast, a general assumption towards vaccinating young people against Covid-19 is already being created. Examples include the statement by Professor John Edmunds, a member of the Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, that “there will continue to be a major disruption in schools until we have vaccinated our children”[8]. Similarly, Mark Drakeford, First Minister of Wales, said “we might, by the autumn, be able to have young people returning to schools with a vaccine available to them and as a result, some of the measures we currently have in schools, such as children wearing masks, might be able to be eased”[9]. Factually misleading and emotionally manipulative teaching material has been circulated to some schools,[10] and statements encouraging the use of peer pressure have been made by school leaders.[11]
Societal Segregation
The vaccination of children raises broader questions which go to the very heart of the society we wish for ourselves and our children. Would vaccinated children be treated differently to unvaccinated children – for example in access to facilities within schools, or indeed in relation to schooling itself as the statements above of Professor Edmunds and Mark Drakeford imply? The broader implications are disturbing.
International Equity
To deploy a significant stock of vaccines on a very low risk group in the UK when many parts of the developing world are struggling to vaccinate even high risk groups is morally fragile. It has been heavily criticised by experts[12][12b] and has been labelled a “moral catastrophe” by World Health Organization’s Executive Director Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.[13] However, even after vulnerable adults worldwide have been offered the vaccine, it still would be inappropriate to vaccinate healthy children.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][vc_column_text]
Not For Them
We are profoundly concerned that you are considering taking the UK down this road. As a society, we have striven over this last year to protect the vulnerable, but vulnerability comes in many forms and absolutely now includes children. We simply must not put children in unnecessary danger, nor in the situations described above. There is no need to rush to vaccinate children for Covid-19, and there may never be any need to do so. Individual children at very high risk can already receive vaccination on compassionate grounds.[14]
No Covid-19 vaccines should be approved or licensed for use in children until the current clinical trials are complete, all adult safety data is fully published and reviewed, and potentially serious long-term side effects have been conclusively ruled out. There must be an open scientific debate, including ordinary ethical standards with a routine assessment of potential conflicts of interest, as well as due process and Parliamentary scrutiny. Informed questions and criticisms should not only be welcomed but encouraged in order to prevent tragedies from occurring.
In conclusion, we join together in urging you to call a halt to the roll out of the Covid-19 vaccination programme to children. Â
This is a decision of generational significance. We do not believe you will ever regret a decision to be cautious when it comes to the health and welfare of the twelve million children of this nation.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Selected Signatories ( a small selection)
[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”top” row_space=”remove_padding_top”][vc_column][vc_column_text]Academics and Scientists
Professor Anthony Fryer           Professor of Clinical Biochemistry, Keele University
Professor Antony Brookes      Professor of Genetics and Data Science, Leicester University
Professor David Paton              Professor of Industrial Economics, Nottingham University
Professor Matthew Ratcliffe     Professor of Philosophy (Mental Health), University of York
Professor Richard Ennos           Honorary Professional Fellow, Biological Sciences, University of Edinburgh
Professor Robert Endres           Professor, Biological Physics., Imperial College, London
Professor Robert Sauer            Chair of Economics, Royal Holloway, University of London
Dr Lee Jones                            University Lecturer, Queen Mary, University of London
Dr Tanya Klymenko                  Lecturer in Biochemistry, Sheffield Hallam University
Dr David Critchley PhDÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Emeritus Professor, Dept of Biochemistry, University of Leicester
Dr Branko Latinkic                    Lecturer – molecular biologist – University of Cardiff
Professor Bill Durodie               Chair of Risk and Security at University of Bath
Professor Peter Allen                Lecturer, LSE
Professor Keith Willison           Chemical Biologist
Prof Georgina Ellison-Hughes    Professor, King’s College London
Dr Markus Wolf                       Senior Lecturer, School of Computing, University of Greenwich
Dr Peter Hewitson                    Senior Lecturer, Dept of Chemical engineering, Brunel University
Dr Oliver Robinson                   Associate Professor of Psychology, University of Greenwich
Jemma Dale                             Biomedical Scientist
Suzanne Tomkinson                 Biomedical Scientist
Jamie Jenkins                           Statistician, Former head of health analysis of the ONS[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”top” row_space=”remove_padding_top”][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Medical Professionals
Professor John A Fairclough      Professor Emeritus Orthopaedic Surgeon
Dr Catherine Heaton                GP
Dr Emma Brierly                       GP
Dr Fiona Underhill                    GP
Dr Gabriella Fetherston            GP
Dr Helen McArdle                    GP
Dr Helen Westwood                 GP
Dr Jillian Wilson                       GP
Dr Jonathan Eastwood              GP
Dr K Singh, MRCGPÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â GP
Dr Kim Wilbraham                    GP
Dr Lisa Clewing                        GP
Dr Rachel Bristow                     GP
Dr Renée Hoenderkamp           GP
Dr Rick Freeman                      GP
Dr Ross Worthington                GP
Dr Anne Renfrew                     GP (Retired)
Dr Claudia Wilkinson                GP (Retired)
Dr Elizabeth Burton                  GP (Retired)
Dr Hugh Charles Pollard            GP (Retired)
Dr Katrina Young                      GP (Retired)
Dr Leo Barragry                        GP (Retired)
Dr Sandra Price                        GP (Retired)
Dr. Mary Dainton                     GP (Retired)
Dr Rosamond A K Jones            Consultant Paediatrician (retired)
Dr C.Geoffrey Maidment          Consultant Physician (retired)
Dr Christopher Paul Chilton      Consultant Urologist Emeritus
Dr Julie Maxwell                       Community Paediatrician
Dr S Allam                                Consultant Anaesthetist
Dr T. James Royle                     Consultant general surgeon
Michael Anthony Church          Consultant Neuropsychologist (retired)
Dr Nichola Ling                        Consultant obstetrician
Dr David Conkey                      Consultant Oncologist
Dr Karen Horridge                    Consultant Paediatrician
Dr John Roche                          Consultant Psychiatrist
Dr David Bramble MDÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Consultant Psychiatrist and Physician
Dr Anthony Hinton FRCSÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Consultant Surgeon
Dr Lasantha Wijesinghe            Consultant surgeon
Dr Christian Duncan                 Craniofacial Surgeon
Dr Tess Lawrie                          Director, Evidence-Based Medicine
Dr Bryony Henderson               Doctor
Dr Chi Eziefula                         Doctor
Dr Anne Mc Closkey                 Doctor
Dr Helen Hawkins                     Doctor
Dr Helen Macklin                     Doctor
Dr Ian Wilson                           Doctor
Dr Natalie Caves                       Doctor
Dr Rob Duncan                         Doctor
Dr Sarah Yardley                      Doctor
Dr Tudno Watkins                    Doctor (retired)
Dr Marco Chiesa                      Doctor of Medicine
Dr Alistair Holdcroft                 Medical Doctor
Dr Gerard Hall                          Medical Doctor
Dr Vivienne Hornby                  Medical Doctor
Morgan Kleczkowska                Former Immunologist
Dr David Green                        Intensive Care Consultant
Dr Elizabeth Evans                    Retired Doctor
Dr Margaret Ann Tottle-Smith  Retired doctor
Graham Crawley                      Retired NHS Consultant
Dr John Mason                         Doctor
Jessica Righart                         Biomedical Scientist
Dr Paul Hughes                        Retired dentist
Dr Charlotte Courtenay-Stamp  Dental Surgeon
Dr Robert Durling                     Dental Surgeon
Dr Susan Hunter                       Dental Surgeon
Dr David Gill                            Dentist[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/2″][vc_column_text]Dr Matthew Jackson                 Dentist
Dr Sylvia Krafft                         Dentist
Dr Mark Atkinson                     Retired Medicinal Chemist
Dr Susie Coughlan                    Veterinary surgeon with PhD Immunology
Dr Ruth Elliott                          Veterinary Surgeon
Dr Samantha Coe                     Veterinary Surgeon
Dr Katharine Wiltshire              Veterinary Surgeon
Dr Jennifer Aspey                     Veterinary Surgeon
Dr Rachel Mahoney                  Clinical Psychologist
Andrea Halewood                    Psychologist, Psychotherapist
Joanne Rees                             Radiographer
Julie Deamer                            Radiographer
Julia Dobson                            Radiographer
Kirsten Fletcher                       Radiographer
Dr Gary Sidley                          Retired Clinical Psychologist
Alton Ainley                             Chartered Psychologist
Darchana Patel                        Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist
Sita Castillo                              Child Psychologist
James Tapper                           Clinical Neuropsychologist
Dr Zenobia Storah                    Clinical Psychologist
Naomi Simcock                        Clinical Psychologist
Stefania Pethica                                   Clinical Psychologist
Dr Faye Bellanca                      Clinical Psychologist
Dr Harrie Bunker-Smith            Clinical Psychologist
Livia Pontes                             Clinical Psychologist
Sasha Lillie Lyons                     Clinical Psychologist
Camellia Kojouri                       Educational Psychologist
Coral Leather                           Midwife
Dawn Brackenridge                  Midwife
Jennifer Sparkes                       Midwife
Nikki Crawley                           Midwife
Ruth Barnes                             Midwife
Sarah McDonald                      Midwife
Angharad Snow                        Midwife
Becky Turner                           Midwife
Helen Gent                              Midwife
Helena Edwards                       Midwife
Janet Delamare                        Paediatric Nurse
Elspeth Hill                              Paediatric Nurse
Anna Phillips                            Paediatric Nurse
Sharyl James                            Respiratory Nurse Specialist
Carolyn Driver                          Retired Immunisation Specialist Nurse
Kim Bull                                   Paramedic
Damien Cominos                      Paramedic
Amy Walker                             Paramedic
Charles Spedding                     Pharmacist
Richard Clarey                          Pharmacist
Tonya Hountingwolf Billington  Pharmacist
Claire Griffiths                          Pharmacist
Rachel Airley                            Pharmacist
Shirley Dann                            Pharmacist, Consultant in Drug Development
Natasha Patel                          Pharmacologist
Katherine Price                        Neurological Psychotherapist[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row content_placement=”top” row_space=”remove_padding_top”][vc_column][vc_column_text]Education and Children’s Services Professionals
(over 700 signatures including teachers and social workers)
Mike Fairclough                       Headteacher
Barry Read                               Headteacher
Clive Price                                Retired Primary School Headteacher and OFSTED inspector[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]Public Figures
Baron Moonie (Lewis)Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Retired consultant in public health, and politician
Baroness Morrissey                  Financier, Peer
Eric Clapton                             Musician
Yolanda Charles MBEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Musician
Sue Cook                                 Writer Broadcaster
Pat Cash                                  Tennis Coach/ Commentator
Bev Turner                               Journalist
Matthew Le Tissier                   Football commentator
Hugh Osmond                          Director
Ian Seale                                  Actor
Julia Hartley-Brewer                 Journalist
Laura Dodsworth                     Writer
Tonia Buxton                           TV Presenter & Author
Kathy Gyngell                          Editor, The Conservative Woman
David Kurten                            Heritage Party Leader
Laurence Fox                           The Reclaim Party Leader
Emma Kenny                           Registered Psychological Therapist
Deena Payne                           Actor
Adam Brooks                           Proprietor
Mark Colbourne MBEÂ Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Olympian
Richard Tice                             Director
Bob Moran                              Journalist
Isabel Oakeshott                      Journalist
Sonia Elijah                              Journalist
Gary Chappell                          Journalist
James Guy Bembridge              Journalist
Sophie Warren Smith               Journalist
Joanna Williams                       Journalist
Jemma Moran                          Journalist[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]