Not yet time to vaccinate children under 5 against Covid: health ministry

The Ministry of Health will continue to follow recommendations by the World Health Organization (WHO), experience from other countries and will determine whether to vaccinate children under 5 against Covid-19 or not based on science.

A vaccine expert said the decision stemmed from the fact that there is not yet enough scientific basis and evidence on Covid-19 vaccination for children under 5.

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) said in June that Pfizer and Moderna’s Covid-19 vaccines can be used on children under 5. But a New York Times survey revealed 43% of parents with children under 5 would not let their children be vaccinated against Covid-19, 27% would "wait", and 13% comply on request.

Their main concerns were the vaccines’ side effects, their novelty and what they perceived as the lack of sufficient research.

As of Wednesday, Vietnam has administered over 249 million Covid-19 vaccine shots, with all children aged 12-17 having received at least two, and 40% three. A total 73% of children aged 5-11 have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine shot, and 41%, two.