By Seleoe Nonyane
Vaccination of teenagers against Covid-19 is in full swing in various parts of the country after the ministry of health started rolling out the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine targeting children aged 12 to 17 years.
The exercise started on December 15, 2021 in Maseru, Leribe, Berea and Mafeteng. The remaining districts are expected to follow as soon as the vaccination in the mentioned districts is completed.
Recent updates show that there have not been any reports of side effects from the Pfizer vaccine. Extended Programme on Immunization nurse ‘Malekhetho Motenalapi said: “We have not received any complaints about the Pfizer vaccine countrywide. This is good news as it will motivate the targeted groups to come in numbers to get their jab.
“We have noted that even though parents seem to be reluctant to take their children to vaccinate, the teens themselves are very much willing to vaccinate.
“In the villages that we visited, the children come in numbers to get vaccinated.” Motenalapi said on Monday.
She said the exact numbers of children who have received the shot were not immediately available, but she was confident that the number of teens coming in for the vaccine will increase after the reopening of schools.
The Pfizer vaccine can be accessed at health facilities, while plans are afoot to avail the vaccine at schools and villages.
