Nanjing is to see its first fully-vaccinated 3-11 year olds by the year’s end, as the city rolls out COVID jabs for youngsters beginning later this month, in a vaccination program coordinated by education and health departments in each district.
The announcement that the shots for children are to start came yesterday afternoon, as Nanjing seeks to complete a COVID immune barrier across the overwhelming majority of the population.
The first jabs for 3-11 year olds are expected to be administered by 20 November, reports the Yangtze Evening News. An interval of 3 to 8 weeks between the two injections shall be required, while at present the shots expected to be used include both the Sinovac and Sinopharm vaccines.
The vaccinations shall also only take place subject to informed consent on the part of parents or guardians.
At this time, it is thought that schools and kindergartens shall, according to each city district’s arrangement, inform children’s parents or guardians of the specific vaccination time and place.
Should individual children not be able to participate in such collective vaccinations, parents or guardians may apply to their school or kindergarten for consent to vaccinate at an alternate location.
At the time of vaccination, children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, and each child’s valid ID must be presented.
Both children and their parents or guardians may not have travelled to, or lived in, any medium or high-risk areas within 14 days prior. Neither should they have had close contact or crossed the path of any COVID-positive case.
3-11 year olds who have received any other immunisation vaccine should not have a COVID jab for at least 14 days thereafter.
As with adults, children should remain at the vaccination site for 30 minutes after the injection in case of side effects.
Children are also advised to avoid fasting before vaccination and vigorous exercise before or after. They should ensure to drink additional water after receiving the shot and get sufficient rest.
