Ministry eyes Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 5-11 years

A health worker collects specimens from a young child infected with coronavirus in the northern province of Bac Giang. (Photo: VNA)

Hanoi (VNS/VNA) – Vietnam is exercising caution in consideration of
COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged 5-11 years, Minister of Health Nguyen
Thanh Long told local media.

The Ministry
of Health 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 5-11 years
yet.

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

The 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
vaccine for children aged 5 to 11, the same one being offered to eligible
children ages 12 to 17 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,
has administered over 14 million COVID-19 vaccine shots for in
the 12-17 age group, with first-dose coverage hitting 90 percent and second-dose
coverage reaching 68.5 percent.

Some
countries have commenced vaccinating young children against COVID-19, such
as the US, 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 2
vaccines)./.