9 Jul 2021

When can a child choose to have Covid-19 vaccine?

From Checkpoint, 5:23 pm on 9 July 2021

So at what age can a child decide for themselves whether to have a Covid-19 vaccine, independent of their parents wishes.

It's a question that could come into sharp focus if the government decides to sign off on Pfizer immunisations for 12 to 15-year-olds, following MedSafe's provisional approval.

Medical ethics expert Dr Monique Jonas from Auckland University says under 16 can be tricky as it is not just a question of age but whether the child understands the decision they are making.