From nearly 76,000 children aged 12-17 in the country, over 59,000 have received the first dose of the COVID vaccine so far. The health ministry plans to roll out the second dose in the first week of October.
About 4,600 were given the Pfizer vaccine in Phuentshogling and Samtse while the rest eleven districts received the Moderna vaccine.
Dr. Sonam Wangchuk, one of the members of NI-TAG said children will either receive Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for the second dose.
The scientific evidences and research recommend using either of the two mRNA vaccines for the second dose. This is because the two vaccines are interchangeable meaning replaceable and same.
“NI-TAG recommended the interval for the second dose as four or six to eight weeks. Now based on that we have vaccinated children on 29th till 5th August. So, we have just passed about a month and have one month in hand. That means by the first week of October, we should roll out the second dose” said Dr Sonam Wangchuk.
Meanwhile, children in the remaining seven districts will receive their first dose when the ministry rolls out the second dose for other children.
“We are also trying Moderna but I think Pfizer is likely to come because all the paperwork is done. And they have confirmed that they are going to send it by the end of September. When this vaccine comes and when we roll out the second dose for children, we will roll out the first dose for the children in the other seven districts at the same time,” added Dr Sonam Wangchuk.
The health ministry rolled out the COVID vaccine for children aged 12-17 last month after the Drug Regulatory Authority approved the emergency use of the Pfizer and Moderna vaccine in children.
Kinzang Lhadon
Edited by Sonam Pem
