Speaking to Blu Radio, the Minister of Health, Fernando Ruiz, revealed that the Government’s plans are to apply this year vaccines against covid-19 to children from 3 to 6 years of age in Colombia.
(Read: Those who had covid can be vaccinated 30 days after diagnosis)
“Our aspiration is that 3-year-olds are vaccinated this year. We are waiting for the respective decisions“Ruiz told the station, reiterating that the start of said vaccination against covid-19 for children in Colombia will depend on the authorizations of vaccines by Invima.
(Read: Government evaluates vaccinating children under 12 years of age)
“We have a stock of approximately 15 million vaccines in the country“, he specified in a statement.
“Twe had a work session last Monday with Invima“, revealed Minister Ruiz. There, the request of the pharmaceutical company Sinovac to start the vaccination of 3-year-old children was analyzed. This company has requested that the emergency permit for said population be extended.
“We have a great concern because, despite the vaccination of teachers, there are restrictions in schools (due to the lack of vaccination in children) and we want that next year there will be total presence in education“Ruiz assured.
In this sense, for children over 3 years old “our aspiration is that they are vaccinated this year“Ruiz confirmed.”What we are waiting for are the definitive decisions of Invima to startr “, he concluded.
Recently, the Council of Experts in Colombia, made up of the Colombian Society of Pediatrics, the Colombian Association of Infectious Diseases and the Colombian Association of Immunology, issued a document recommending vaccination in children.
“The benefits of vaccination against immuno-preventable diseases in the child population are undeniable, they reduce the burden of disease, hospitalization and death“said the council.
Finally, the Minister of Health clarified that the objective is that by next year there will be a complete presence in educational institutions: from elementary school to universities.
So far, the Government has authorization from Invima for the vaccination of minors between 6 and 12 years old. “Given the accumulated experience in vaccination against the virus and the advance of the vaccination plan in Colombia, the start of vaccination in the population between 6 and 12 years old should be considered”, The experts assured.
The minister clarified that the two doses will be applied to minors, as well as it works in the vaccination scheme for adults.
It is expected that, with the expansion of vaccination schemes, reduce the impacts on mental, physical and social health that the pandemic has had on minors.
Ruiz stressed that advances in vaccination have allowed the fourth peak, which was expected to occur in October, postponing its arrival in the country.
“We hope that mayors read the rules and understand the scope of their decisions and their powers, and understand those of the national order. We consider that in the case of Medellín, as well as in the rest of the cities of the country, we are not yet in a scenario of removing masks and, clearly, the public is aware that the fourth peak may arrive and we must have sufficient prevention for this”, Emphasized the official.
Drafting THE TIME
