The Ministry of Public Health and Social Assistance (MSPAS) reported, this Friday, December 13, on the provision of the Modern COVID-19 vaccine for children over 6 to 11 years of age.
Dr. K’ajob Kiché Ponce, from the Immunization Program, assured that after vaccinating boys and girls, the disease is mild and does not require special care, even in a hospital, because immunization prevents severity and death in those who get sick. .
The doses supplied to minors are two, with an interval of 8 weeks or 57 days between the first and second doses, the medical professional explained.
“With these doses they are already protected and we are awaiting the emergence of new evidence and whether more doses will be required in the future. At the moment, with these two doses, children are protected from presenting a serious disease of COVID-19”, commented the doctor.
Salud assured that the importance of minors being vaccinated because they will have contact with more people and within the family someone may be at high risk of contagion.
The vaccination posts can be consulted on the social networks of said institution.
RECOMMENDATIONS
In the same way, Dr. Ponce requested to follow the recommendations to avoid contagion of the disease, including the use of a mask, which she specified is highly recommended, as well as washing hands with soap and water or constantly using alcohol in gel.
#Update| #MSPAS reports on January 13, 2023 the laboratory-confirmed cases on the Situation dashboard #COVID19 in Guatemala.
⚠️ Corresponds to 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 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 would be used in minors, however, the portfolio explained that half a dose would be used for boys and girls. .
“The vaccine for minors is specific, it is not only that the content of the dose is lowered at the time. So the same one that is used for adults cannot be used for children,” said Deputy Orlando Blanco, who recently denounced the lack of vaccines in the country.
According to the parliamentarian, the Alejandro Giammattei Administration refused to sign an agreement with Pfizer for pediatric vaccines, since it refused to hold the State responsible for any adverse reaction.
On the subject, pediatric infectologist Mario Melgar, from 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 have been published on the use of the Moderna vaccine in children and that gives us the peace of mind to recommend and apply it, even so, putting half of it, with the Pfizer vaccine it has not been possible to do it because there is no way to divide it,” explained the professional. Of the health.
THE FIGURES OF COVID-19
Until January 13, the Health portfolio had applied 20 million 020 thousand 949 doses of vaccines, with a total of 11 thousand 433 active cases this Friday, 1 million 217 thousand 439 accumulated cases and 20 thousand 045 deaths, since it began the pandemic.
