HCM City proposes COVID-19 vaccinations for children

The Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health has sent an urgent document to the Ho Chi Minh City Pasteur Institute, asking for an approval of its plan to inoculate children aged 12 – 17 against COVID-19.

HCM City plans to iuse the Pfizer vaccine to inoculate its childten. (Illustrative image)

The Department of Health requested the Pasteur Institute to approve the use of the Pfizer vaccine and provide guidance as well as training.

The Ministry of Health earlier agreed to vaccinate children aged 12 to 17 but it has yet to give specific instructions. The ministry authorized Institutes of Hygiene and Epidemiology and Pasteur Institutes nationwide to provide specific instructions on vaccinations for children in their localities.

Under its proposal, the HCM City Department of Health plans to inoculate four groups of children, including children attending school, children not attending school, children with underlying diseases and children undergoing inpatient treatment in hospital.

It will pilot vaccinations for students aged 16-17 in Cu Chi District and District 1 first. Vaccinations will take place at medical facilities, mobile injection sites and schools.

Currently, HCM City has about 780,000 children aged 12 to 17. A recent survey conducted by the municipal Department of Education and Training shows 92% of parents have agreed with vaccinations for their children.

According to the Ministry of Health, few COVID-19 vaccines are being used to vaccinate children worldwide. Among them are the Pfizer and Moderna.

The US Food and Drug Administration has fully approved the Pfizer vaccine 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.

Though children have a much lower risk of severe COVID-19 infection than adults, health experts say vaccinations can help reduce virus transmission among children.

HCM City is the largest coronavirus hotspot in Vietnam. Since the virus recurred in Vietnam in late April 2021, the city has recorded nearly 430,000 cases, making up half of the country’s total.