Riyadh – On Wednesday, Deputy Minister of Health Dr. Abdullah Asiri announced that the Saudi health authorities had approved the Pfizer vaccine for children aged five and 11 years. “The dose for children will be half of the adult dose and administered in two phases,” he said.
Dr. Asiri noted that among the children infected with COVID-19, the symptoms are mild in most cases, while only a small group of them get severe illness and hospitalization. In addition, he said that there are no symptoms reported among those children who have received the vaccine shot.
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Dr. Asiri underlined the need to take the vaccine by all children as they are a source of infection for the older age groups.
The ministry official pointed out that there could be a need to take vaccines as Coronavirus will continue to be with us; like influenza, but its virulence would decrease gradually.
Dr. Asiri said: “The booster dose of the vaccine will provide with lasting protection; and the need for the booster dose increased following the spread of the mutated Omicron variant; and the continued presence of a large group of non-vaccinated people among us,” he said.
According to Dr. Asiri, the booster dose is necessary and mandatory for all due to the decreased immunity after the second dose of the vaccine,” he added.
