Boys, girls and adolescents, between 6 months and 17 years old, will be able to start receiving reinforcement doses against the coronavirus from next January 9, reported the Ministry of Health of the Nation. The expansion of the pediatric vaccination strategy was defined based on the recommendation of the National Immunization Commission.
A total of 3,510,380 boys and girls under 12 years of age and 1,894,827 adolescents between 12 and 17 years of age who have already completed 120 days of their last dose have not yet received their booster.
As of Monday, January 9, and depending on the vaccination plans of each jurisdiction, all boys and girls between 6 months and 2 years, 11 months and 29 days old who have completed their initial schedule against this illness for 120 days or more.
In addition, all girls and boys from 3 to 11 years old and adolescents between 12 and 17 who have applied the first reinforcement 120 days or more may receive the second reinforcement. The health portfolio detailed that only one dose was applied to 82,011 children from 6 months to two years, a coverage of 4.5%.
In the range that goes from 3 to 11 years old, 5,514,802 children received a dose, with a coverage of 81.8%, while between 12 and 17 years old, 3,944,265 doses were applied, 92. 3% coverage.
Meanwhile, 24,289 boys and girls between 6 months and two years old received the complete initial scheme, 4,464,078 children from 3 to 11 years old, coverage of 66.2% and, between 12 and 17 years old, 3,467 received the initial scheme. 662 children, 81.2% of the total.
The first booster was received by 2.9% of children between 3 and 4 years of age, 13.7% of children between 5 and 11 years of age, and 38.2% of children and adolescents between 12 and 17 years of age.
The portfolio also highlighted that only 1.21% of adolescents aged 12 to 17 with immunocompromised received the second booster.
And he pointed out that with 1,497,434 booster doses applied during the last 4 weeks (from December 4 to 28), the percentage of application increased by 228% compared to the previous four weeks.
He also warned that “it is very important that reinforcements continue to be applied to the entire population, prioritizing people aged 50 or over and those with risk conditions.”
