As stated in the COVID-19 vaccination protocol for children aged 5 to 11, published by the
Ministry of Health (Minsa), the inoculation process of this age group will be developed by prioritizing the immunization of minors with comorbidities or those who are immunosuppressed.
According to
Ministerial Resolution No. 809-2021-MINSA, this population group includes children with Down syndrome, orphan and rare diseases, mental and neurodevelopmental disorders, people who are awaiting or have undergone organ transplants, oncology patients, those with class 2 and class 3 obesity, class 1 and class 2 diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis and psoriasis, chronic diseases, and patients undergoing hemodialysis.
TB patients and those who are HIV-positive are included as well. Around 35,666 children between 5 and 11 years of age are estimated to have these comorbidities in Peru.
In addition to children with comorbidities and those who are immunosuppressed, children 10 and 11 years of age in the urban sector of the country are also eligible to get vaccinated.
Subsequently, vaccination will be open to 9-year-olds in urban zones and to children between 5 and 11 years of age in the rural sector.
Minsa has already confirmed that the first batch of the Pfizer vaccine —which will be used to immunize this population group— will arrive on January 21, so the vaccination process is expected to begin in the following days.
The guidelines for the vaccination of this population group state that only minors who do not show symptoms consistent with COVID-19 in the last two weeks will be able to be vaccinated, as well as girls and boys who had no contact with COVID-19 positive patients in the last two weeks.
In the case of children in the same age group who fell ill with COVID-19, they may be vaccinated taking into account the following criteria: mild cases that did not require either oxygen or hospitalization can be vaccinated 14 days after the infected person's isolation period ends.
Severe cases requiring oxygen or hospitalization can be vaccinated 90 days after discharge.
(END) NDP/LIT/RMB/MVB
Published: 1/19/2022