Children and adolescents aged 12-17 years are likely to be vaccinated against COVID-19 in the fourth quarter of this year,
Health Minister Oscar Ugarte has reported.
"3 million children and adolescents (aged 12-17) will be immunized (with the COVID-19 vaccine) based on their chronological order, and we think that it will be in the fourth quarter," he explained.
"According to technical recommendations, we can start vaccinating minors aged 12-17 with comorbidities that have been approved, such as those with Down syndrome, nephrotic conditions, rare diseases, or those undergoing oncological processes," he noted.
In this regard, Ugarte reported that the protocol to vaccinate children and adolescents with comorbidities is being designed in order to inform of the date, place, and type of vaccination.
He did not rule out starting the vaccination of this population with comorbidities before July 28 this year.
The government official emphasized that any of the COVID-19 vaccines that are being administered worldwide were authorized for emergency use in people 18 years of age and older, because they had not been approved for children and adolescents.
(END) LIT/RMB/MVB
Published: 6/23/2021