COVID- 19: Only 27.5% of children between the ages of 5 and 11 received the vaccine twice.

Vaccines are the best tool that humanity has to deal with the pandemic. COVID-19. Since the first dose occurred, governments around the world encouraged access to citizens and soon ended the health crisis. However, in the case of Peru, it has been confirmed that minors between 5 and 11 years of age are increasingly going to vaccination centers.

According to a publication by engineer Juan Carbajal, a former volunteer at Open Covid Peru, the participation curve has dropped dramatically over the past few days. “Pediatric vaccination rates are plummeting,” the expert's publication said. At the end of February, when 89,000 minors participated, only 42,000 were registered.

“On the other hand, it would have reached at least 40% in two doses so far; however, according to the Carbajal publication, it reached 27.5%. Authorities have announced that minors do not need to have both doses of the vaccine to return to school, but authorities have not stopped urging them to get vaccinated and comply with that schedule.

It is important to note that the influx of minors depends largely on the support of adults who care for them, since it is important to accompany them so that they can sign the corresponding permission. Although there is a large proportion of minors who have received the first dose of the vaccine, it is important to receive a second dose as a means of preventing transmission of new strains that have arrived in our country but have not yet been recorded.

Progress at the national level

The figures are also not encouraging, given the entire population. According to the COVID-19 Vaccine Control Office, only 35.14% of the general population received booster doses, despite recommendations and warnings from authorities regarding the importance of virus variants.

Considering the vulnerable population, 68.32% received three doses of the vaccine, this is a different figure for different age groups, but it should be borne in mind that 30% of the group that needs a third dose remain. According to Civil Affairs, 11,519,265 Peruvians already have a booster capacity. In relation to the total dose, 65,276,242 vaccines will be administered from February 2021 to March 16, 2022.

“We renew our commitment to fight the epidemic and acknowledge the health heroes who continue to fight the epidemic. Together, we will complete the vaccination and not let the expenses down.” said the Minister of Health.

Despite the low influx of vaccination centers, the number of infections throughout the country continues to decline, and the National Center for Epidemiological Prevention and Disease Control (CDC Peru) of the Ministry of Health (Minsa), National Center for Epidemiology, Prevention and Disease Control (Minsa) by the end of March and early April (CDC Peru) estimated that by the end of March and the beginning of April it will be the third wave of COVID-19. Cesar Munayco, executive director of public health surveillance in CDC Peru, said what is happening this year will be decisive for declaring the SARS-CoV-2 virus as an endemic disease.

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