A health worker collects specimens from a young child infected with coronavirus in the northern province of Bac Giang. (Photo: VNA) The Ministryof Health has submitted a tentative inoculation plan to the Government awaitingapproval, however, Long stressed the World Health Organisation (WHO) has notissued official guidance for vaccinations for children aged 5-11 yearsyet.
“Therefore,the Ministry of Health works very carefully, scientifically and objectively onthe basis of reference to inoculation programmes of all countries,” he said,adding that the ministry was in close coordination with the WHO in thematter.
The ministeralso expressed concerns about public acceptance, so the Prime Minister hasordered the health ministry to conduct a survey regarding vaccinations foryoung children.
He admittedgetting the shots to this age group would be much more difficult compared toadults.
The otherissue is supply but the health ministry is already in talks with variousmanufacturers and suppliers, and is eyeing Pfizer/BioNTech COVID-19vaccine for children aged 5 to 11, the same one being offered to eligiblechildren ages 12 to 17 in the country.
“This is avery important issue. We can’t rush things, and we have to take concrete stepsto ensure maximum safety for children,” Long said.
To date,Vietnam has administered over 14 million COVID-19 vaccine shots for children inthe 12-17 age group, with first-dose coverage hitting 90 percent and second-dosecoverage reaching 68.5 percent.
Somecountries have commenced vaccinating young children against COVID-19, suchas the US, Canada, Brazil, many European countries, Australia, United ArabEmirates, Israel, Malaysia, (with paediatric doses of Pfizer/BioNTechvaccines); China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Argentina, Columbia, (using China’sSinovac and Sinopharm vaccines); and Cuba and Venezuela (with Cuba’s Sobenara 2vaccines)./.
VNA
