Port Of Spain – The Ministry of Health says that it will consult with the relevant stakeholders before rolling out Pfizer coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccines for 5 to 11-year-olds.
On Friday, the World Health Organisation (WHO) recommended extending the use of a reduced dosage of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine to children ages 5 to 11.
Speaking at the Ministry of Health’s virtual media briefing on Saturday, Health Minister Terrence Deyalsingh welcomed the latest development and provided details on the Ministry’s rollout plan.
“I just want to explain to the national community what process we are going to follow to roll it out. The Chief Medical Officer will convene his Technical Advisory Group (TAG) on Monday to dissect and digest the updated Interim Guidelines which WHO put out yesterday. We will also be conferring with the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA) to look at their technical guidelines and technical details.”
“So far, this morning and last night when this Interim Guidelines came out, I personally have been in contact at a national level with Dr Faith B Yisrael (THA Health Secretary) to coordinate not only a national rollout but a national training and sensitisation programme for those who have to administer the vaccine. I have also alerted Nyan Gadsby-Dolly, Minister of Education, because this directly affects school children between the ages of 5 and 11.”
The health minister said all of these bodies will be invited to examine the Interim Guidelines and determine the way forward with recommendations for a national rollout.
To date, eleven children have died from COVID-19 in the twin island republic. (CMC)