Sharjah24 – AFP: Cambodia on Friday began inoculating children as young as six against coronavirus, even though the World Health Organisation has yet to approve a vaccine for the under-12s.
The southeast Asian country has won praise for its swift vaccination programme, which has seen more than 98 percent of the adult population receive at least one dose, according to the health ministry.
The latest phase of the drive began with the grandchildren of Prime Minister Hun Sen and other officials receiving a Sinovac shot in front of reporters in Phnom Penh.
"It is necessary for us to do this because we have to step ahead," Hun Sen said.
Cambodia plans to give children aged six to 12 two shots of the Chinese-made vaccine, with a third booster dose later.
Sinovac has been approved for adult use in more than 50 countries but China has cleared it for use in children.
But health experts are not yet sure about the advisability of vaccinating younger children.
The World Health Organisation has urged countries to hold off jabbing those under 12.
"More evidence is needed on the use of the different COVID-19 vaccines in children to be able to make general recommendations," the UN health agency said.
A global study on the effectiveness of the Sinovac shot on youngsters aged between six months and 17 years was launched last week.
The research will involve 14,000 children and teenagers in South Africa, Chile, Kenya, Malaysia and the Philippines.
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