The Lao government will begin a nationwide rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged 6 to 11 in March in a bid to reopen schools safely, local media reported Wednesday.
Local daily, Vientiane Times, reported Deputy Manager of the National Immunisation Programme, Chansai Pathammavong, as saying.
He said a total of 957,000 children in this age group would be vaccinated, and hoped that the vaccination of young children would encourage other family members to get vaccinated.
The vaccination of all children aged 6-11 would begin in Lao capital Vientiane, while provinces that were ready may also go ahead with immunisation, Chansai said.
Inoculations would be given to children only if their parents give their consent.
The ministry would map out a vaccination plan while the education and sports ministry would inform parents about the importance of vaccination.
The health ministry also instructed local authorities and health officials to review the progress made in vaccinating people aged 12 to 17 and to ensure that jabs were administered to those still unvaccinated.
So far, 65.74 per cent of the eligible population has received their first jabs, while 57.86 per cent has completed two doses, according to the National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control.
