The government has delayed the start of the programme to vaccinate children ages 5 to 11 against COVID-19 and Minister of Health Dr Frank Anthony on Friday admitted that the special vaccine doses for the age category have not yet been procured.
Anthony made the disclosure during his daily COVID-19 update, one day after his ministry announced the delay of the start of the vaccination programme.
The vaccination programme was due to get underway on Friday and health personnel had undergone training to administer doses to children. However, hours before the planned start, the Health Ministry issued a statement announcing that it had not been able to secure the new formulation of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for use in children aged 5 to 11 years, which would require two doses (10 μg, 0.2 mL each), three weeks apart. “The Ministry of Health will continue its efforts to procure this new formulation for children and inform the public when it becomes available,” it added.
“Although the dose has reduced Pfizer has made special vaccinations for this age group, so while it’s the same ingredients and everything the package has been different and we have been making efforts to source that,” Anthony said on Friday.
He added that authorities here have been unable to get the doses in time to start the inoculation programme, resulting in the deferral of the start until those specific vials with the prepackaged recommended dose amount arrive.
The government’s announced plan to begin the vaccine programme saw concerns being voiced by some parents as it became clear that the special Pfizer doses were not procured.
