Peru vaccinates schoolchildren against COVID-19

Peru on Monday started a nationwide campaign to vaccinate children between the ages of 5 and 11 against the coronavirus.

The campaign aims to protect youngsters as they begin to return to in-person classes on Monday.

In the capital Lima, Cristina Rios said she was relieved her daughter was getting vaccinated.

"It was such a big worry for me, and finally it's now done on this great day," she said.

Mirtha Vásquez, Peru's Prime Minister, said that protecting children against COVID-19 was a "milestone" for the country in its fight against the pandemic.

The Pfizer vaccine is being used to inoculated minors, a decision made by the government.

Nearly a million doses of the Pfizer jab were received by President Pedro Castillo last week.

Castillo, a former rural teacher, had made the return to in-person classes a priority for his government.