HCM City is providing COVID-19 Pfizer vaccines to children aged 12-17 years. — VNA/VNS Photo

HCM CITY — The HCM City Department of Health has called on the People’s Committee to first administer a booster shot of COVID-19 vaccine to high-risk groups and frontline forces before continuing with the immunisation programme.

The third shot is meant for people who got the second shot six months to one year ago depending on the kind of vaccine, according to the recommendations from vaccine manufacturers and the World Health Organization.

The city started vaccination on March 8 with medical workers at the HCM City Hospital for Tropical Diseases, which was treating severe COVID-19 cases. 

Subsequently, medical workers at other hospitals and other frontline forces got vaccinated. 

After designated priority groups were immunised, the city began vaccinating the public from June.

As of October 28 more than 5.6 million people had got both shots while another 1.5 million had got the first.

Speaking at a meeting held on October 30 to review the city’s performance in terms of COVID-19 prevention and control, Nguyễn Văn Vĩnh Châu, deputy head of the department, said the city would continue to administer shots, including to children aged 12-17, this year.  

“Vaccination is the long-term and leading strategy. The city has to ensure vaccination of all its people. Pregnant women, people aged more than 50, those with underlying medical conditions, obese people, and frontline COVID-19 forces are given priority.”

In a proposal, the department also seeks to give third and fourth shots to people next year besides vaccinating children aged down to three.   

On October 31 the District 3 health centre collaborated with social welfare and vocational training centres for children with disabilities to vaccinate local children aged 12-17 years.

This week health centres in other districts and Thủ Đức City will administer shots to children with disabilities aged 12 to 17.   

The city started vaccinating all children in these ages on October 27 and hopes to immunise all 780,000 in the age group within a week.

Provinces such as Bình Dương and Ninh Bình in the north are also currently vaccinating children aged 15-17.

On October 31 Bình Dương started vaccinating more than 42,000 people aged 15-17, according to its Department of Health.

The campaign will go on until November 2.

According to the Ministry of Health, the national vaccination campaign for children aged 12-17 will wrap up early this month.

A few days ago it organised a training course for medical officials throughout the country to enable the campaign. — VNS