The Ho Chi Minh City Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control issued a COVID-19 vaccination plan benefitting children from 12 to 17 years old on Friday afternoon.

The committee estimates that about 780,000 children aged 12-17 in the city need to get vaccinated against COVID-19, with those from 16 to 17 years old being the first vaccine recipients.

The injectable vaccine is approved by the Ministry of Health for use in children during the age range, with a prescription of two doses per child.

Children will receive jabs at either their schools or medical facilities designated by their schools’ management boards.

Children who do not go to school will be vaccinated at fixed or mobile vaccination sites selected by local authorities in Thu Duc City and districts.

Kids with underlying diseases will get injection at a pediatric hospital or a general hospital with a pediatric specialty.

Health workers will also inoculate children undergoing inpatient treatment at specialized pediatric hospitals or general hospitals with pediatric specialties, including those hailing from other provinces, in accordance with the regulations of the Ministry of Health.

Following the 16-17 age group, the remaining age groups will be administered doses in order from older to younger, depending on the vaccine supply and local epidemic situation.

Health workers expect to give out the first vaccine doses within seven days after the health ministry provides detailed instructions.

The municipal Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control requested the city’s Department of Education and Training and Department of Labor, Invalids, and Social Affairs to review the number of children from 12 to 17 years old to facilitate the vaccination drive.

Vietnam documented 3,985 additional COVID-19 patients on Friday, together with 5,202 recoveries and 56 fatalities.

New cases fell to a daily average of 3,500 this month compared to over 10,000 in September.

The country has so far fully vaccinated over 20 million of its 98 million population.

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