This vaccine is safe for children, Dr. Long told a meeting on vaccinations for children.

According to the minister, children aged 16-17 will be injected first and those in other age groups will receive their vaccine shot later.

For smaller children, he said the Ministry of Health has worked out a vaccination plan in 2022 pending the availability of vaccines for these groups.

Safety is No1 priority, stressed Dr. Long, adding that the National Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology will run training courses for all provinces and cities on October 29.

Meanwhile, Ho Chi Minh City, the largest coronavirus hotspot in Vietnam, has been green-lighted to carry out a vaccination campaign for local children. The first 3,000 students in Cu Chi District and District No.1 will be given their first shot on a trial basis on October 27.  

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.

Quang Ninh to inoculate children aged 12-17 against COVID-19 on Oct. 30

The northern province of Quang Ninh will begin vaccinating children aged 12-17 against COVID-19 on October 30, with the inoculation to be carried out in all localities.

This is a positive move to realise the goal that the province vaccine people aged 18 years and above with two doses and organise vaccination for children aged 12-17 to ensure herd immunity.

Over 95 percent, or nearly 119,000, of local children aged 12-17 are expected to receive the full two shots in the coming time. The inoculation must be agreed by children’s guardians.

The provincial health sector plans to mobilise 3,600 medical workers to conduct the inoculation./.

Source: VOV/VNA