Vietnam to vaccinate children against COVID-19
Vaccination for children against COVID-19 is scheduled to begin in early November, with priority given to those who have had to stay away from school due to prolonged lockdown, Health Minister Nguyen Thanh Long said on October 26.
Speaking at an online conference on pandemic control with 19 southern provinces and cities, the Health Minister said based on the scheduled delivery of COVID-19 vaccine, the vaccination of children is to begin at the start of November, with Ho Chi Minh City to pilot the inoculation for children in District 1 and Cu Chi district.
Following the guidance for children vaccination issued on October 14, teenagers aged 16 and 17 will be the first to receive the shots, he said, adding that Pfizer vaccine will be used for children.
The vaccination will be conducted by mobile stations, or at communal health stations or at schools, according to Minister nguyen Thanh Long. After the 16-17 age group, 15-year-old children will be the next to be vaccinated.
Parents or guardians of children will be required to sign papers allowing the vaccination, Long said, urging relevant agencies to conduct awareness activities to get adults to take their children to vaccination.
The US Food and Drug Administration has fully approved the Pfizer vaccine (Comirnaty) for children aged 16 and older. Children between the ages of 12 and 15 can get the shot under the current emergency use authorization. Clinical trials show the Pfizer vaccine is 90.7% effective against asymptomatic infection in children.
