HCMC vaccinates 40,000 children against Covid

Cu Chi and District 1 Wednesday became the first districts in the city to begin vaccinating children against Covid-19, administering the first shots to 1,428 and 260 students, respectively.

All districts in the city and the newly established city within the city, Thu Duc, have administered the vaccine to around 40,000 children so far.

"No severe side effects were recorded. Mild side effects were effectively handled," said Nguyen Thi Huynh Mai, office head of the HCMC Department of Health.

The Covid-19 vaccination campaign for children aged 12-17 began Wednesday, with those aged 16-17 being prioritized before moving downwards through different age groups. The city aims to give all the children their first shots within seven days and another week for administering the second shots after a gap of three to six weeks.

Around 780,000 students will be vaccinated in the city, according to the municipal education department. More Pfizer vaccine doses would be distributed depending on how the vaccination proceeds.

HCMC has vaccinated around 7.2 million people with at least one Covid-19 vaccine shot so far; and 5.7 million people have been fully vaccinated.

Vietnam plans to start the national children vaccination campaign in November.