Da Nang began offering the COVID-19 vaccine to young people aged 15 to 17 on November 2 as part of the city’s school-based COVID-19 vaccination programme.

Senior high school students got vaccinated against COVID-19 at the Tien Son Sports Arena on Tuesday morning, November 2. Photo: NGOC HA

Following the decision by the Da Nang government, the city will roll out the COVID-19 jab to over 100,000 young people aged 12 to 17 in November and December in line with the recommendations of the Ministry of Health.

Mr. Mai Tan Linh, the Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Education and Training said that 56,740 young people aged 12 to 15 and 45,485 persons aged 15 to 17 across Da Nang are eligible for one dose of the Pfizer vaccine following the Ministry of Health’s recommendation.

Jabs started in senior high schools across Da Nang on November 2 with the vaccination programme rolling out to junior high schools in the coming weeks.

Da Nang is giving out the first dose jabs to eligible senior high school students from November 2-5. The vaccination is available at 19 vaccination sites across the city.

In line with standard practice for vaccinations in schools, consent letters have been sent out to parents with information on the COVID-19 vaccination. A consent form and information leaflet provided by the Da Nang Center for Disease Control and Prevention are used to seek parental consent.

Vaccinating school students will help to reduce the need for them to have time off school and to reduce the risk of spread of COVID-19 within their schools. The school vaccination programme will provide protection to children who will be vaccinated and help to reduce disruption to face to face education after schools reopen.

All vaccination locations will do temperature checks on people before entry allowing space for social distancing and a 30-minute recovery time. Strictest health and safety measures, especially the 5K recommendations of the Ministry of Health, are being put in place at these venues.

Beneficiaries are required to undergo medical checks for eligibility, and they are provided with medical advice and post-vaccination observation.

A resuscitation area is available in each location where vaccines are being given, and health workers are prepared to treat immediate allergic reactions after vaccination.

A health care professional is giving the Covid-19 vaccine to an eligible female student in mask on the morning of November 2 at the vaccination site located in the To Vinh Dien Primary School in Son Tra District. Photo: PHAN CHUNG

Doctor Nguyen Tien Hong, the Deputy Director of the municipal Department of Health said that the health agency has made a good preparation to ensure vaccines can be given to young people aged 12 to 17 as safely and quickly as possible. All school immunisation teams are all trained to spot and manage allergic reactions and eligible young people will be observed for 30 minutes after vaccination.

High priority is given to providing medical advice and post-vaccination observation for children with birth defects, those with certain underlying medical conditions, those with a history of severe allergic reactions or with a specific medical condition.

Mr Hong highlighted the need for healthcare workers to give advice to parents or guardians of vaccinated young people about how to observe their children after vaccination. The focus must be on closely monitoring their children’s health at home within 24 hours and within 28 days after vaccination.

Like all medicines, vaccines can cause side effects. Most of these are mild and short-term and not everyone gets them. The very common side effects should only last a day or 2. Very common side effects in the first day or 2 include: having a painful, heavy feeling and tenderness in the arm where you had your injection, feeling tired, headache, aches and chills. Children and young people may also have flu-like symptoms with episodes of shivering and shaking for a day or two.

Vaccinated young people are advised to rest and take paracetamol following the dose advice in the packaging to help make them feel better.

Urgent medical advice must be sought if a child has the following symptoms in the 7 days following vaccination: chest pain, shortness of breath, feelings of having a fast-beating, fluttering, or pounding heart.

 Reporting by PHAN CHUNG - NGOC HA – Translating by H.L