A young woman gets her COVID-19 jab in Đống Đa District, Hà Nội. The Ministry of Health has allowed inoculation for children from 12 to 17 years old starting October. VNA/VNS Photo Minh Quyết

HÀ NỘI — The Ministry of Health has allowed health authorities across the country to inoculate children between 12 and 17 years old against COVID-19.

In a document sent to health departments, institutes of hygiene and epidemiology and Pasteur Institutes of cities and provinces yesterday, the ministry asked health authorities to start giving COVID-19 vaccines to children as soon as possible.

They will be inoculated in the oldest-to-youngest age order, the document reads.

The vaccines that are going to be used are those that have been approved by the ministry for this age range. Each child will receive two doses of the same vaccine.

The ministry also asked the health departments to collaborate with their respective Departments of Education and Training to review and make lists of vaccination for students from grade 6 to 12, and work with local authorities to identify those who don’t attend school but are eligible to get vaccines.

Inoculations will be conducted at mobile and static vaccination venues, and at schools where applicable.

Parents and guardians of the children will have to sign a vaccination consent form before they get the jabs.

Pre-vaccination screenings must be conducted in accordance with the ministry’s guidance. Parents and guardians must be instructed on caring for the children after vaccination.

Local health authorities should encourage and motivate adults to get their children vaccinated.

The institutes of hygiene and epidemiology and Pasteur Institutes in provinces and cities are tasked with developing guidance and instructions on inoculating children for their respective localities, as well as providing them with expertise and technical support in organising vaccination drives.

Localities should also speed up vaccination for adults (from 18 years old). People from 50 years old should be given priority to be fully vaccinated.

At an online meeting with voters held in HCM City on Saturday, Nguyễn Thanh Hùng, Director of Children’s Hospital No 1 in HCM City, said that the Pfizer BioNtech vaccines developed by the US and Soberana by Cuba are safe to use for children.

Pfizer's vaccines have been given by US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention for children aged 12-17, and the US company is seeking approval for use in children aged 5-11.

Cuba has developed two homegrown vaccines, Abdala for adults, and Soberana for children. VNS