The country will begin the COVID vaccine booster doses for the priority group across the country from 24th December. The priority group includes all residents above the age of 18 in the high-risk areas, elderly above 65 years across the country, persons with chronic medical conditions, all health workers and all outbound travellers above the age of 18. According to the ministry, there are close to 230,000 people in the priority group.
The ministry will provide the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines as booster doses for the priority group. However, Astrazeneca and Covishield will be provided as a choice for those who have received these vaccines as their first and second dose.
The country has close to 160,000 doses of the Pfizer vaccine expiring in March next year and over 100,000 doses of Moderna expiring in February. The booster doses will be provided through the health centres until 31st December.
Similarly, the health ministry on its Facebook page last month shared the ministry is exploring to vaccinate children aged five to eleven years with the Pfizer paediatric vaccines.
The health minister said the negotiation to procure the vaccine is ongoing. Currently, there are 83,227 children aged five to eleven years in the country.
The Food and Drug Administration or FDA in the United States recently approved the Pfizer pediatric vaccine in children of five to eleven years.
According to the FDA officials, the vaccine was more than 90 per cent effective in preventing COVID in young children. The FDA’s evaluation also did not find any serious side effects.
As of now, only Israel and the United States have rolled out the vaccination. However, the Pfizer pediatric vaccine is still awaiting emergency use authorization from the World Health Organization.
As of November 17, the health ministry has vaccinated 76.8 per cent of its overall population including 93.2 per cent of its adult population and 92.8 per cent of the children aged 12-17 years.
Phub Gyem
Edited by Sonam Pem
