Ireland set to begin Covid-19 vaccination programme for children aged six months to four years
Date
2/20/2023 3:49:16 AM
(MENAFN) Ireland is set to begin a COVID-19 vaccination programme for children aged six months to four years on Monday, following a recommendation from the National Immunisation Advisory Committee. The programme aims to protect children and reduce transmission, and will be offered to those in the age group who have underlying health conditions that put them at higher risk of contracting the virus. Community vaccination centres will offer the smaller dose of the comirnaty (Pfizer/BioNTech) vaccine to children in the eligible age group. Each child will require three doses, with an interval of at least three weeks between doses one and two, and at least eight weeks between doses two and three.
Parents or legal guardians must provide consent for their child to receive the vaccine. Even children who have already contracted the virus can receive the vaccine, although it is recommended to wait four weeks after symptoms first appeared or after a positive test result for the vaccine to be most effective. According to the Health Service Executive in Ireland, the National Immunisation Advisory Committee has recommended that the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks for all children in this age group.
Aparna Keegan, a specialist in public health medicine at the HSE National Immunisation Office, has encouraged parents to visit the HSE website to learn more about the children's Covid-19 vaccine and make an informed decision. Although severe illness from Covid-19 in this age group is rare, the vaccine offers additional protection, particularly for children with underlying health conditions that put them at high risk of severe Covid-19.
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