Sep 19, 2021 - World

Cuba becomes first country to begin mass vaccination of children

Yacob Reyes

A child receives a dose of COVID-19 vaccine at a school in Havana, Cuba, Sept. 16, 2021. — A child receives a dose of COVID-19 vaccine at a school in Havana on Sept. 16. Photo: Joaquin Hernandez/Xinhua via Getty Images

Cuba this week became the first country in the world to begin the mass vaccination of children against the coronavirus, CNN reports.

Why it matters: The effort comes in response to a recent uptick in cases, which led Cuban officials to scrap plans to reopen schools earlier this month.

At least 117,500 minors are reported to have been diagnosed with COVID-19 in Cuba, according to CNN. Children as young as 2 are eligible to receive the vaccine on the island.
As of yet, vaccination is not mandatory, however, parents have been heavily encouraged to immunize their children.

What they're saying: "It's not a condition in order to attend our educational institutions when classes renew to be vaccinated," said Vice Minister of Education Eugenio González Pérez, per CNN.

"But we call on the Cuban family to vaccinate their children. We have a vaccine that's 100% Cuban," he added.
"It's alarming the numbers of infections of the new coronavirus that have occurred in Cuba in the last few months in the pediatric population," added Cuban Health Minister Jose Portal Miranda.

Add Axios on Google

Cuba becomes first country to begin mass vaccination of children

What to read next