Almost all HCMC kids aged 12-17 get first vaccine shot

There were no cases of severe reactions after injection.

Authorities said 54 children had normal reactions, 560 with underlying diseases were transferred to hospitals to get vaccinated, and 12 showed contraindications to the vaccine.

A representative of the Ho Chi Minh City Center for Disease Control (HCDC) said Monday that the first phase of the Covid-19 vaccination roll out for children in this age group, which took place Oct. 27 to Nov. 8, was "completed successfully" with safety ensured in reception, screening and injection areas.

After Districts 1 and Cu Chi started the campaign, the remaining districts followed suit, with a total of 577 vaccination sites established in quick time.

It is expected that the city will deploy the second phase on November 22, administering the second doses to children who've had the first shot three to four weeks earlier.

Up to now, 7.9 million people in the city have received one dose of Covid-19 vaccine and 5.9 million people have been fully vaccinated.

Vietnam has approved two Covid-19 vaccines, one by Pfizer and the other by Moderna, for vaccinating children. The country aims to cover all children aged 12-17 with at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose within the fourth quarter of this year.

The nationwide Covid-19 vaccination campaign for children 12-17 years old started on Nov. 1.

Ho Chi Minh City, Da Nang and Binh Duong are among 16 cities and provinces that had begun vaccinating children.