(Antigua Observer) Schoolchildren aged 12 to 17 in Antigua and Barbuda will be offered the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for protection against the dangerous Covid-19 Delta variant, when an expected batch of doses arrives on the island in a matter of weeks via the US.
This marks a significant shift from the adults-only vaccination policy that has been in place since the start of the public inoculation programme, but is understandable as the Pfizer/BioNTech is currently the only Covid jab approved by the World Health Organization for use in children.
The announcement was made in this week’s post-Cabinet report, with the body saying it intends to “ensure that as many students age 12 and older in fourth and fifth forms, receive the vaccine”.
The exact date of arrival for the Pfizer doses is not yet known, therefore a start date for the student vaccinations cannot yet be set.
