Abstract
Key messages
Pandemic policy on children and schools reflected UK based scientific narratives that did not align with global scientific consensus
Government relied on evidence that downplayed the seriousness of covid-19 in children, underestimated the benefits of precautionary measures, and overestimated the harms of vaccination
Return to school in September 2020 with minimal emphasis on masking and air quality, and inadequate support for isolation may have accelerated community transmission
The public inquiry should explore why the UK was an international outlier in its approach to protecting children and making schools and communities safer
Pandemic policy on children and schools reflected UK based scientific narratives that did not align with global scientific consensus
Government relied on evidence that downplayed the seriousness of covid-19 in children, underestimated the benefits of precautionary measures, and overestimated the harms of vaccination
Return to school in September 2020 with minimal emphasis on masking and air quality, and inadequate support for isolation may have accelerated community transmission
The public inquiry should explore why the UK was an international outlier in its approach to protecting children and making schools and communities safer
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Article number | 071234 |
| Journal | British Medical Journal |
| Volume | 378 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 31 Aug 2022 |
Funding
Competing interests: We have read and understood BMJ policy on declaration of interests and declare DG is funded by a UKRI/Rutherford HDR-UK fellowship (MR/S003711/2). CP, SM, GS, TG, and MM are members of Independent SAGE. SM participates in the Independent Scientific Pandemic Insights Group on Behaviours (SPI-B).
| Funders | Funder number |
|---|---|
| Rutherford HDR-UK | MR/S003711/2 |
| UK Research and Innovation |
Access to Document
- bmjenq_final.PDF
This article has been accepted for publication in The BMJ 2022 following peer review, and the Version of Record can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj-2022-071234 © Authors (or their employer(s) 2022.