A PUBLIC health expert has been lectured on the effects of the coronavirus vaccine on teenagers by a journalist after saying that she feels "sorry" for teens who can't yet get the jag.

Professor Devi Sridhar, chair of global public health at Edinburgh University, tweeted that she feels for teens, especially those in the 12-15 age group who do not yet know whether they will be able to get a coronavirus vaccine.

A decision is still to be reached on whether the vaccine will be extended to children between the ages of 12 and 15 who do not have underlying health conditions.

The chief medical officers of Scotland, Wales Northern Ireland and England have been considering whether to extend the programme and are due to make a decision soon.

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Sridhar highlighted that teens have had to experience the pandemic without the prospect of getting extra protection from Covid-19, like other people older than them.

She said: "Already lost so much during the pandemic - and now not even getting the choice to have a vaccine that millions of teens have access to across Canada, US, and Europe. Instead have to risk getting Covid (& missing school for 10 days if positive)."

Sunday Mirror columnist Beverley Turner responded with "Not a mother are you....?" before talking about why "adverse reactions" to the Covid vaccine will force children to miss school.

Sridhar replied: "Again the childless accusations - Chris Whitty got this all weekend so not just directed at women.

"Social media is a toilet sometimes."

READ MORE: Protest against Covid passports takes place in Glasgow's George Square

Professor Chris Whitty, England's chief medical officer (CMO), has been one of the officials targeted by vaccine sceptics as the officials have been considering evidence of the effects of the vaccine on young people between 12 to 15-years-old.

UK vaccines minister Nadhim Zahawi has said that a decision will be made "shortly" on offering the jag to younger people after the four CMOs advice was considered.