Health ministry eyes Pfizer COVID vaccines for children aged 5-11 years

HÀ NỘI — Việt Nam is exercising caution in consideration of COVID- 一 九 vaccinations for children aged  五- 一 一 years, Minister of Health Nguyễn Thanh Long told local media.

The health ministry has submitted a tentative inoculation plan to the Government awaiting approval, however, Long stressed the World Health Organisation (WHO) has not issued official guidance for vaccinations for children aged  五- 一 一 years yet.

“Therefore, the Ministry of Health works very carefully, scientifically and objectively on the basis of reference to inoculation progra妹妹es of all countries,” he said, adding that the ministry was in close coordination with the WHO in the matter.

The health minister also expressed concerns about public acceptance, so the Prime Minister has ordered the health ministry to conduct a survey regarding vaccinations for young children.

He admitted getting the shots to this age group would be much more difficult compared to adults.

The other issue is supply but the health ministry is already in talks with various manufacturers and suppliers, and is eyeing Pfizer/BioNTech COVID- 一 九 vaccine for children aged  五 to  一 一, the same one being offered to eligible children ages  一 二 to  一 七 in the country.

“This is a very important issue. We can’t rush things, and we have to take concrete steps to ensure maximum safety for children,” Long said.

To date, Việt Nam has administered over  一 四 million COVID- 一 九 vaccine shots for children in the  一 二- 一 七 age group, with first-dose coverage hitting  九0 per cent and second-dose coverage reaching  六 八. 五 per cent.

Some countries have co妹妹enced vaccinating young children against COVID- 一 九, such as the United States, Canada, Brazil, many European countries, Australia, United Arab Emirates, Israel, Malaysia, (with paediatric doses of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccines); China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Argentina, Columbia, (using China’s Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines); and Cuba and Venezuela (with Cuba’s Sobenara  二 vaccines).— VNS