Ukraine mulls COVID vaccination for children 5-11 years old

The Ministry of Health of Ukraine plans to consider COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 5-11 years in April.

"There have been no recommendations from the European Technical Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization on vaccinating children aged over five. That is, such an issue was not considered at the European level. We plan to consider vaccinating children aged over five approximately in April," Deputy Minister of Health, Chief State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine Ihor Kuzin told BBC News Ukraine in an interview.

According to Kuzin, the experience of other countries, where such vaccination campaigns are already carried out, shows that such vaccination is safe. COVID-19 vaccination helps prevent premature death, especially against the background of severe somatic illnesses, outbreaks in organized groups.

As noted, 140,000 children aged over 12 have been vaccinated against COVID-19 in Ukraine.

"Children are vaccinated only at the request of parents. About 140,000 children aged 12-18 years old have already been vaccinated,” the State Sanitary Doctor of Ukraine said.

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