Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region and the city of Jingzhou in Central China’s Hubei Province announced on Tuesday that they will begin to vaccinate minors aged from 12 to 17 and have formulated specific schedules for the vaccination plan. This comes one month after China approved the emergency use of COVID-19 vaccines among groups aged from 3 to 17 in June.
The region and the city are believed to be the country’s first two places that are taking the lead in inoculating the age group. An insider from the vaccine industry revealed that 16 provinces in the China will also start vaccinating people aged from 15-17 in July and the rest 16 provinces will follow in August.
The vaccination process will be conducted in three steps. In July, people aged from 15 to 17 will receive the first dose. The second dose will be administered in August, at the same time those aged from 12 to 14 will be getting their first dose. The region vows to accomplish the vaccination campaign by the end of October.
Besides, the disease control and prevention center of Jingzhou, Hubei also released a notice on vaccination on Tuesday, saying that the city will begin vaccinating minors aged from 12 to 17 and those above 60 from August 1.
China is expected to administer COVID-19 vaccines to at least 70 percent of the targeted population by year end. And expanding the use of vaccines to minors is an important part to help Chinese people achieve herd immunity.
