UK may offer Covid-19 jabs to 12- 15-year-olds. Stocks to look at

Highlights 

• NHS England to prepare for a potential extension of the Covid vaccination programme to all 12 to 15-year-olds from early September.
• No advice regarding vaccine rollout provided by JCVI yet, but forward planning to be started.
• Jab offers in the 12-15 age group only for children living with a vulnerable adult or certain health conditions.

The National Health Service are getting ready for a potential extension of the Covid vaccination programme to all 12 to 15-year-olds in England from early September. The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) has not yet provided with any advice regarding the broadening of the vaccine rollout, and a final decision to offer jabs to this age group is yet to be taken. However, the Department of Health & Social Care (DHSC) has stated that planning must be done for all scenarios to tackle all kinds of eventualities and be fully prepared to hit the ground running in case JCVI recommends offering vaccine to the 12-15-year-olds.

According to DHSC, the reason for a successful vaccination programme was the progressive planning and preparations, which was done beforehand, prior to receiving the approval for the vaccine by the medicine regulator and prior to the final advice of JCVI. Forward planning, thus, played a key role in the whole process.

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As per DHSC, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has already stated that for the 12-17 year olds, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine have been proven safe and effective, but the decision regarding the universal vaccination of 12-15 year olds has not been taken yet. Keeping in mind the expectation of parents across the country to keep their children safe, the UK Government has asked the NHS to take the necessary steps to make sure that they are all set to initiate the universal vaccination drive targeting 12- to 15-year-olds starting this September.

The NHS will prepare for offering a school-based programme, along with the support of other delivery models wherever required, to make sure that there is full vaccine coverage across the country. NHS England will contract providers to recruit and train staff for offering quality school-aged immunisation services. Webinars will be hosted with clinical commissioning groups, immunisation providers, and local authorities to provide them with updates regarding planning arrangements for contingencies, as well as publishing training materials for NHS vaccinators and local delivery partners.

Schools will be asked to support the vaccine drive by providing space to carry out vaccinations and giving some time off to children for their travel to the vaccination sites. Consent of the parents or carer will be required to get a 12–15-year-old vaccinated.

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The jabs offered in the age group of 12-15 years will only be for children with specific underlying health conditions, and those who are vulnerable household contacts of someone who is immunosuppressed. For 16-17-year-olds, first dose was recommended by JCVI earlier this month, but currently no second dose is being scheduled. Some of the countries which are already vaccinating children aged 12 and above are the US, Canada, France, and the Netherlands.

Here we take a look at 5 stocks you may consider with the new rule.

AstraZeneca plc (LON: AZN)

British-Swedish multinational pharmaceutical and biotechnology company, AstraZeneca, is headquartered in Cambridge, and operates in more than 100 countries across the globe and develops and commercialises medicines for millions of people worldwide. With a substantial market capitalisation of £132,681.82 million, the company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Its one-year return is 1.87%.

Its shares traded at GBX 8,539.00, up by 0.29% at 8.20 AM on 1 September 2021.

Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC (LON: DPH)

UK-based company involved in developing and marketing of veterinary products, Dechra Pharmaceuticals PLC, is unique as a major proportion of its products are utilised to treat medical conditions for which there is no other effective cure or have a clinical or dosing advantage over competitor products. With a market capitalisation of £5,654.37 million, the company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 index. Its one-year return is 67.54%.

Its shares traded at GBX 5,220.00, down by 0.38% at 8.20 AM on 1 September 2021.

Genus plc (LON: GNS)

UK-based company which sells elite genetics and other products manufactured using biotechnology to cattle and pig farmers, Genus plc, works in close collaboration with farmers to ensure a sustainable future for all. The world-leading animal genetic company is headquartered in Basingstoke. With a market capitalisation of £3,935.88 million, the company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 index. Its one-year return is 76.26%.

Its shares traded at GBX 5,930.00, down by 0.08% at 8.20 AM on 1 September 2021.

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GlaxoSmithKline plc (LON: GSK)

UK-based multinational pharmaceutical company headquartered in Brentford, GlaxoSmithKline plc, aims to improve the health of millions of people across the globe, by providing them with innovative medicines, vaccines and consumer healthcare products. With a significant market capitalisation of £74,247.99 million, the company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 100 index. Its one-year return is 76.26%. Its earning per share is 1.16.

Its shares traded at GBX 1,471.40, up by 0.64% at 8.20 AM on 1 September 2021.

Vectura Group plc (LON: VEC)

UK-based Pharmaceuticals Company headquartered in Chippenham, Vectura Group plc, is a leader in providing inhaled medicines and mainly focuses on bringing DPI, pMDI and nebuliser medicines to the market with the help of its specialist capabilities. With a market capitalisation of £983.16 million, the company is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a constituent of the FTSE 250 index. Its one-year return is 24.34%.

Its shares traded at GBX 164.20, up by 0.24% at 8.20 AM on 1 September 2021.