Switzerland has said children between 12 and 15 years old could be vaccinated against Covid-19 with the shot from Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech.

The recommendation follows approval of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine earlier this month for 12-15-year-olds by Switzerland's drug regulator, and is aimed primarily at youth in groups who may be at high risk of severe disease should they contract Covid-19, including those suffering from a chronic condition, or those who have contact with somebody in a risk group, according to Reuters.

The country, which has until now been vaccinating people 16 and over with the Pfizer/BioNTech shot, added the younger age group with the goal of both preventing rare serious infections in younger people and reducing sources of possible transmission.