A PANDEMIC is a novel situation, and so dealing with it means that our leaders have to make unprecedented decisions.

Even so, the making of the decision about offering the vaccination to children aged between 12 and 15 has been muddy. The vaccination committee said a fortnight ago that the health benefits to children were so marginal that it didn’t think the vaccination was worthwhile, but the chief medical officers have looked at wider benefits, such as the impact on children’s well-being and education should their school be shut by the virus, and concluded that it is.

It now seems inevitable that politicians will agree to this advice, and “offer” the jab to children.

They need to do so with clarity. They need to show that this really is worthwhile. They can’t just expect teachers to pick up the responsibility of getting it done; children will want to see the full weight of the NHS behind this so that they get the feeling of its importance.

Our infection rates are among the highest in Europe although, thankfully, the vaccination seems to be mitigating the virus’ worst effects.

This is allowing us to reopen society, but senior health officials – especially those in our region – are worried about how hospitals are going to be able to cope as we move into winter.

We need, therefore, to widen our response to the virus, and vaccinating the 12 to 15-years-olds, as is being done in many other countries, seems an eminently sensible – and safe – course of action.