The Vietnamese Ministry of Health has just issued Document No. 8688/BYT-DP on a COVID-19 vaccination drive benefitting children from 12 - 17 years old.

Under the Ministry of Health’s guidance, children aged between 12 -17 will be inoculated with the vaccines approved by the Ministry, which has yet to specify the brands. After a required interval from the first shot, they will receive their second jab of the same vaccine.

Vaccines are required to be given to all 16 to 17-year-olds first and then to those at lower ages. The inoculation rollout will be carried out at schools, and fixed or mobile inoculation points, based on the vaccine supply and the pandemic situation in each locality.

The municipal Department of Education and Training will be responsible for making lists of children 12-17 years of age who are eligible for getting vaccines against COVID-19.

As for children of this age who do not attend school, the authorities at grass-roots level will be in charge of making such lists.

Before immunization, children will undergo screening and their parents or custodians will be given necessary consultancy before signing vaccination consent forms.

The minors will be monitored for at least 30 minutes before obtaining vaccination certificates.

Reporting by TOAN VAN (Source from the Vietnamese Ministry of Health) – Translating by M.D