© Boumediene Belbachir
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The Interministerial Public Health Conference has decided today that 12 to 15-year-olds can also be vaccinated against Covid-19. In Flanders, this group of teenagers will therefore be invited for vaccination in the vaccination center of their region in the coming weeks. The first vaccinations will probably already be administered in the week of 19 July.
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Flanders has approximately 299,000 12 to 15-year-olds. In the coming weeks, these children will receive an invitation by mail to their home address for vaccination with Pfizer, currently the only vaccine already approved for the vaccination of minors. The 12 to 15 year olds do need their parents’ permission to be vaccinated. Parents (or the legal guardian) can give this permission by accompanying their child in the vaccination center or by providing written permission.
Children who cannot accept this first invitation, for example due to holiday plans, will be given another chance at the end of August or in September. The Agency for Care and Health will discuss the organization of this resit with the vaccination centers in the coming weeks.
Flemish Minister of Welfare and Health, Wouter Beke (CD&V): “The risks for a 12- to 15-year-old to become seriously ill from a Covid-19 infection are very small. Nevertheless, the vaccination of this target group is very important, as it contributes to increasing the general vaccination coverage and thus to achieving herd immunity. The more children are vaccinated, the less the virus and variants can circulate in this group. This reduces the risk that children will infect other people who are more vulnerable to Covid-19. Especially with the increase in the number of infections due to the delta variant, it is important to obtain the highest possible general vaccination coverage for herd immunity.”
The vaccination of these young people can also help to limit or avoid extra measures to contain the virus. Many of these measures affect young people’s well-being.
“Throughout the crisis, young people have shown great solidarity with all generations. I am convinced that many teenagers will now also be vaccinated. Importantly, every vaccine brings us one step closer to normal. It is also very important for children and young people that we can reopen our society without rules,” said Benjamin Dalle (CD&V), Flemish Minister for Youth.
(cdh)
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