Health ministry issues latest guidance on COVID-19 vaccination

The Ministry of Health has issued its latest guidance on COVID-19 vaccinations, which asks all agencies to continue administering booster doses for those 18 and above, and complete second doses for those aged 5-12 within August.
Health ministry issues latest guidance on COVID-19 vaccination ảnh 1All agencies are asked to continue administering booster doses for those 18 and above, and complete second doses for those aged 5 -12 in August. (Photo: VNA)
Hanoi (VNA) - The Ministry of Health has issued its latest guidanceon COVID-19 vaccinations, which asks all agencies to continue administering booster doses for those 18 and above, andcomplete second doses for those aged 5-12 within August.

The rollout of fourthdoses should also be expedited for those aged 18 and above who require it.

Authorities should alsomake plans for the administration of third doses for children aged 12 -17 yearsold.

Additionaldose

The guidance clearlystates that an additional dose (not the third dose) is given to those aged 18or older, including people with moderate and severe immunodeficiency, such aspeople undergoing cancer treatment.

Thesegroups include organ transplant recipients who are taking immunosuppressivedrugs; people receiving T-cell antibody receptor therapy (a type of treatmentthat helps the immune system attack and destroy cancer cells) or have a stemcell transplant (within the past two years); people with moderate or severeprimary immunodeficiency; people with advanced or untreated HIV; people who areon active treatment with corticosteroids or high-dose immunosuppressive drugs;people who have received the full basic dose of Sinopharm vaccine (Vero cell)or Sputnik V vaccine.

The guidance says thatone additional injection should be administered within 28 days to three monthsafter the initial first two doses.

People who have beeninfected with COVID-19 should be vaccinated immediately after recovering and completingmedical isolation as required.

Third dose 

People who areapplicable for the third dose of COVID-19 vaccination are those 18 years oldand older who have received the full basic shots (one, two or three dependingon the type of vaccine and the additional dose if available).

The guidance states thisdose should be at least three months after the last dose of the basic coverage.

Fourthdose (second booster dose)

The target group of thefourth dose are people aged 50 and over; people aged 18 years and over withmoderate to severe immunodeficiency; people aged 18 years and older who are inhigh-risk groups for exposure to COVID-19 such as health workers, frontlineofficials (police forces, army, teachers, people working in the transportationsector, etc.) people providing essential services, people working at touristservice establishments, trade centres, supermarkets, markets), workers, andpeople working in industrial parks.

The type of vaccine tobe injected is the mRNA vaccine (Pfizer or Moderna vaccine); AstraZeneca; orthe same type of vaccine as the third dose (first booster shot).

This shot should betaken at least four months after the third dose.

Boosterdose (third dose) for children 12-17 years old

Children from 12years old to 17 years old who have received full basic doses are applicable fora booster. The latest guidance has indicated Pfizer shots for children of5-12 and Moderna shots for those of 6-12./.
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