Brazil authorized this Wednesday the coronavirus vaccination of children between 5 and 11 years old in the midst of a controversy unleashed since its approval by the health authority and a significant increase in cases.
“To all those parents who want to vaccinate their children, the Ministry of Health will guarantee doses of the anticovid vaccine,” said Minister Marcelo Queiroga in Brasilia.
The start of vaccination of this population, estimated at 20.5 million children, is scheduled for the second half of this month, after the arrival of the first pediatric immunizers from Pfizer-BioNtech, on the 13th, although no date was specified.
It will be carried out in a decreasing way, prioritizing children with comorbidities or permanent deficiencies, and vulnerable groups, such as indigenous people. Parental authorization, present or in writing, will be mandatory.
The announcement, which joins Brazil to a growing list of countries that extended vaccination to that age group, such as the United States and Germany, was made three weeks after the health authority, Anvisa, approved the vaccine for children between the ages of 5 and 11 years.
The dose will be applied with an interval of eight weeks between each injection, instead of 21 days as in adults.