10 May 2022 Apia Samoa. The Acting Director General for the Ministry of Health, Tagaloa Dr Robert Thompsen confirmed today during an NEOC press conference that booster doses will soon be available and rolled out for children aged 16 and 17.
“We are looking to the end of this month. It will coincide with the 4-month period since the completion of the second dose for this age group,” said Dr Thompsen.
The last vaccination update showed that close to 90% of children aged between 12-17 have been double vaxxed.
Samoa will roll out booster doses for 16-17 year olds who’ve completed their primary dose course of Covid-19 vaccination at least 3 months prior.
Currently, the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine is the only vaccine authorized or approved for children between 5 through to 17 years.
Pfizer is also the approved vaccine for boosters of 16-17 year olds.
Initially only 16-17 year olds were approved however the CDC has more recently stated children aged 12-15 years could also get a booster shot.
The Head of Samoa’s National Emergency Operations Centre Agafili Shem Leo reminds the nation that “Vaccination remains our best defence” against the impacts of Covid-19.
“88% of children aged 12-17 have had their 2 shots, and 83% of children aged 5-11 years are fully vaccinated..”
Agafili and Tagaloa reminded the nation that vaccinations are continuing. There are still eligible adults over 18 who need to come in for a booster.
Tagaloa Dr Robert Thompsen says the public will be told about when the rollout of boosters for 16-17 year olds will be done.
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