Swedish PM says children aged 12-15 will be offered COVID vaccine

STOCKHOLM (Reuters) – Sweden will offer vaccine to children aged 12 to 15 years later this autumn, Sweden’s Prime Minister Stefan Lofven said on Thursday.

“It lowers the risk for severe and serious disease and the risk that you miss school,” Lofven told a news conference.

More than 80% of Swedes aged 16 and above – the group eligible for the vaccines – have had one shot and almost 75% are fully vaccinated.

(Reporting by Johan Ahlander, editing by Helena Soderpalm)