According to local media, the Lao government will begin a statewide deployment of COVID-19 vaccinations for children aged 6 to 11 in March in order to resume schools safely.
Chansai Pathammavong, Deputy Manager of the National Immunization Program, was quoted in the Vientiane Times as saying.
He stated that a total of 957,000 children in this age bracket would be vaccinated, and that he hoped that vaccination of young children would motivate other family members to do the same.
The vaccination of all children aged 6 to 11 years old will begin in Vientiane, Laos’ capital, while provinces that are ready may also proceed, according to Chansai.
Inoculations would only be given to youngsters with their parents’ permission.
The ministry would devise a vaccination strategy, while the ministry of education and sports would educate parents on the necessity of immunization.
The health ministry also directed local governments and health officials to assess progress in vaccinating children aged 12 to 17 and to ensure that those who remained unvaccinated received vaccinations.
According to the National Taskforce Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control, 65.74 percent of the eligible population has received their first dosage and 57.86 percent has finished two doses.