On Friday, December 13, the Department of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS) reported the provision of a recent COVID-19 vaccine for children aged 6 to 11 years older.
And Dr. Kajub Keshih Pons, from the immunization program, confirmed that after vaccinating boys and girls, the disease is mild and does not require special care, even in the hospital, because vaccination prevents risk and death for those who fall ill.
The specialist doctor explained that the doses given to minors are two doses, with an interval of 8 weeks or 57 days between the first and second doses.
“With these doses they are already protected and we are waiting for new evidence to emerge and whether more doses are needed in the future. Right now, with these two doses, children are being protected from getting seriously ill from COVID-19,” the doctor commented.
Salud stressed the importance of vaccinating minors because they will be in contact with more people and within the family someone may be at risk of infection.
Vaccination sites can be consulted on the social networks of the said institution.
Recommendations
In the same way, Dr. Pons asked to follow the recommendations to avoid contagion of the disease, including the use of a mask that I strongly specified, as well as washing hands with soap and water or constantly using alcohol in gel.
#to update| #MSPAS Reports on January 13, 2023 of laboratory confirmed cases on the status dashboard #covid19 in Guatemala.
⚠️ It falls on January 12, 2023 from 00:00 to 23:59.
Enter 👉 https://t.co/sVrE3dBq6c pic.twitter.com/YunM7mhh2e– Ministry of Public Health (MinSaludGuate) January 13, 2023
Half a dose is used for minors
On December 21, Health announced the new batch of Moderna doses, which reached a total of 302 thousand vaccines, which will be used for minors, but the wallet made it clear that half a dose will be used for boys and girls.
The vaccine for minors is specific, and it is not limited to lowering the dose content at that time. Rep. Orlando Blanco, who recently denounced the country’s lack of vaccines, said the same type that is used for adults cannot be used for children.
According to the parliamentarian, Alejandro Giamatti’s administration refused to sign an agreement with Pfizer for children’s vaccines, because it refused to hold the state responsible for any negative reaction.
On this subject, pediatric infectious disease scientist Mario Melgar, of the National Council of Immunization Practices (Conapi) confirmed to La Hora that half a dose of the Moderna vaccine can be given to minors as there are studies that prove it.
“Studies on the use of the Moderna vaccine in children have been published and this gives us the peace of mind to recommend and apply it, however, by putting half of it, with the Pfizer vaccine it would not have been possible to do this because there is no way to divide it up,” explained the professional health.
COVID-19 numbers
As of January 13, the health portfolio has applied 20 million 020 thousand 949 doses of vaccines, with a total of 11 thousand 433 active cases on Friday, one million 217 thousand 439 accumulated cases, and 20 thousand 045 deaths, since the start of the epidemic.
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