Cuba becomes first country to start COVID vaccination for children aged 2 yrs and above

Cuba started inoculating children above 2 years with COVID-19 vaccine jabs on 6 September, making it first country in world to start vaccinating children below age of six.

Cuba started inoculating its home-grown jabs, which are yet to be recognised by World Health Organization (WHO), to infants, according to a report by Insider. Earlier on 2 September, country h started inoculating children above 12 years of age. This came after Cuba completed clinical trials on minors with its Abdala and Soberana vaccines. According to reports, Cuba's home-grown vaccines have not undergone scientific peer review. 

Cuba to reopen schools from October end

According to Insider report, Cuban government plans to inoculate all children before winter. report also claimed that authorities were in mood to reopen classrooms from October end or November. Educational institutions have been closed in country since first COVID-19 infection was detected in March 2020. Schools have started a new session from Monday via television programs, due to lack of internet penetration.

In 2019, approximately 61.8% of island's population h an internet connection. However, despite this, low internet speed has always been a major obstacle for video classes. Earlier China, United Arab Emirates and Venezuela announced ir plans to vaccinate infants. However, Cuba has become first to start vaccinating toddlers. Notably, several or countries are currently vaccinating ir minors, while several ors are conducting clinical trials. Recently, Chile approved Chinese Sinovac vaccines for children aged between six and 12.

WHO urges nations to get teachers jabbed against COVID-19

Earlier, on 30 August WHO Regional Office for Europe and United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) appealed to countries to prioritise inoculation of COVID-19 vaccines for teachers and staff involved in managing schools. agencies stressed importance of education and appealed to open schools throughout pandemic.

It asked authorities concerned to make school a safe place by opting measures to minimise transmission of virus. agencies appealed to authorities to offer vaccine to school staff as part of target population groups in ir respective national vaccination plans while ensuring immunisation of vulnerable populations.

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