Living together and safely adapting to COVID-19 is a trend chosen by most countries all over the world all, and Viet Nam is no exception. Like other countries, immunization for school-age children in Viet Nam is a matter of great concern as most parents want their children to be vaccinated against the deadly virus in readiness for the resumption of offline schooling soon.

A health care professional is giving the Covid-19 vaccine to an eligible male student in mask in Da Nang

First of all, it must be affirmed that vaccination against COVID-19 for children is extremely necessary at this concerning time for countries around the world and in Viet Nam in particular.

Like other respiratory viruses, SARS-CoV-2 may put the infected children at a risk of pneumonia, respiratory failure, sinus and ear infections, and especially multi-organ inflammatory syndrome that can cause severe respiratory distress and then death.

However, as compared to adults, when children contract COVID-19, their symptoms are usually milder and they can recover from the disease faster. Children at risk for severe disease are often those with underlying medical conditions.

Health authorities around the world have issued detailed guidelines on vaccination against COVID-19 and recommendation on immunisation for children aged 12 and above.

Up to now, 36 countries have offered COVID-19 vaccines to children belong to this age range, including developed countries such as the U.S, Canada, the U.K, France, Italy, Denmark, Finland and Sweden.

In particular, the vaccination campaign for children aged five to 11 in the U.S. is expected to hit full speed by November 8, White House officials said earlier this week, but some children already started getting their jabs at hospitals and health clinics on Wednesday.

In Viet Nam, the national administration has approved two types of COVID-19 vaccines, one by Pfizer and the other by Moderna, to vaccinate children aged 12-17.

As per instructions from manufacturers, the second shot of the Pfizer vaccine should be around three to four weeks after the first. Within the first three days of vaccination, children must always have their families beside them for health monitoring. Consent from parents or guardians are needed for their children’s vaccination.

The Vietnamese Ministry of Health has organised online training for 63 provinces and cities on vaccination for children, of which vaccination safety is of paramount importance.
Children under 18 account for around 17 percent of all Covid-19 infections in Vietnam, according to data from the health ministry.

With 8.1 million people in the age group (12 to 17), Viet Nam has purchased 20 million doses of vaccines for children.

Clinical trials show the Pfizer vaccine is 90.7 percent effective against asymptomatic infection in children.

The ministry plans to begin vaccinations for younger children in 2022 based on more scientific data and updates of vaccines for children.

In Da Nang alone, amid the complicated and unpredictable COVID-19 developments, the re-opening of offline schooling  in the city has been postponed to November 15, 2021 so that the local health sector can administer COVID-19 vaccine to children aged 15 – 17.

For the time being, the city is rolling out the first COVID-19 jabs to over 100,000 young people aged 12 to 17 in November and December in line with the recommendations of the Ministry of Health.

In line with standard practice for vaccinations in schools, consent letters have been sent out to parents with information on the COVID-19 vaccination.

Aconsent form and information leaflet provided by the Da Nang Center for Disease Control and Prevention are used to seek parental consent.

The child must be monitored for at least 30 minutes after injection at the site.

A certificate of vaccination will be issued along with instructions for monitoring at home, including the phone number of the medical facility to contact when needed.

Getting vaccinated and following the 5K measures will help us adapt themselves safely to the pandemic. Therefore, parents can rest assured that vaccination against COVID-19 for their children is an urgent must-do to protect them from infection and pave the way for the re-opening of offline schooling at the earliest.

Reporting by KY HA – Translating by ANH THU