Children with Covid-19 but do not declare the local health care provider can delay vaccination against Covid-19 after 3 months?

This is the opinion of Assoc. Prof. Dr. Duong Thi Hong – Deputy Director of the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology answering reporters on the sidelines of the press conference providing medical information held by the Ministry of Health this morning 13/ 4.

Assoc. Prof. Dr. Duong Thi Hong – Deputy Director of the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology said that currently, the first batch of Covid-19 vaccines given to children from 5 to under 12 years of age, aided by the Australian Government, has arrived in Vietnam. .

Currently, this batch of vaccines is being transferred to the Central Institute of Hygiene and Epidemiology for quality control.

“After receiving the results of the quality assurance inspection of the vaccine batch, it is expected that next week a campaign to vaccinate children from 5 to under 12 years old will be organized nationwide.

First, the vaccine will be given to 6th graders, then will be given to younger children. For each batch of vaccine and each group of children, we will have specific instructions,” said Associate Professor Hong.

Illustrations

Associate Professor Hong said that there are currently 2 vaccines used for children of this age: Moderna and Pfizer vaccines. The Ministry of Health requires only 2 injections of the same type of vaccine, not mixed with any mRNA vaccine.

Dosage with Moderna vaccine is applied to children 6-13 years old with a dose of 0.25ml (half the dose compared to older children and adults).

With Pfizer vaccine, the dose will be 0.2ml (one vial for 10 children).

Both injections are nationally agreed 4 weeks apart.

The post-injection reactions for children aged 5 to 12 years were similar to those for children aged 12 to 17 that we have had injections in the past.

Namely headache, diarrhea, arthralgia, myalgia, pain at injection site, exhaustion, chills, fever (higher frequency for 2nd dose), injection site swelling, exhaustion, headache redness and swelling at the injection site, muscle pain and chills

The most common reactions in the age group from 5 to under 12 years old are: nausea, redness at the injection site;

Uncommon reactions are lymphadenopathy, hypersensitivity reactions (rash, pruritus, urticaria, angioedema), decreased appetite, insomnia, lethargy, increased sweating, night sweats, pain extremities, weakness, discomfort, itching at the injection site;

Very rare reactions are myocarditis, pericarditis (less than 1 in 10,000).

For children who have been infected with Covid-19, Dr. Doctor Le Kien Ngai – Head of Infection Prevention and Control Department (National Children’s Hospital) affirmed that parents still need to have their children vaccinated against Covid-19 after 3 months of being infected.

“Children who have had Covid-19 can still get it again. Once a child has contracted Covid-19, the risk of severe complications, possibly death, post-Covid conditions, and other complications is entirely possible.

So while the epidemic is continuing, preventive vaccines even if children already have Covid-19 continue to be needed,” said Dr. Dr. Le Kien Ngai emphasized.

Accordingly, in order to ensure the safety of giving Covid-19 vaccine to children, especially when children have had Covid-19 before, based on scientific evidences as well as published experiences of countries that have After declaring the Covid-19 vaccine for children, the Expert Advisory Council on the use of vaccines of the Ministry of Health has agreed to stipulate the minimum time for Covid-19 vaccination for children aged 5- under 12 years old. Covid-19 is 3 months.

“This is the period when it is assumed that if a child has contracted Covid-19, he will almost fully recover, and the natural protection obtained when the child is infected is also reduced, so vaccination suitable for children.

Medical staff, when screening, will conduct a comprehensive assessment, advise and prescribe Covid-19 vaccine for children to ensure safety in accordance with regulations and professional guidance”, said Dr. Dr. Le Kien Ngai information.

The situation is that there will be children who have contracted Covid-19 (parents test themselves at home) but do not declare to the local health department, so they do not have a certificate of isolation, will they be vaccinated after 3 months or immediately?

Answering this question, Prof. Duong Thi Hong said that if the child is sure that the child has Covid-19, it will only be given after 3 months. If the flu is normal, after it is cured, at the time of vaccination, the child’s health is normal, he will still be vaccinated against Covid-19.

“In case the family does not declare but confirms that the child has been infected with Covid-19, it will only be administered after 3 months. Mothers who come to declare to the medical staff will fully agree and advise their children”, Assoc. Dr. Duong Thi Hong emphasized.

N. Huyen