HCMC health department peeved with medical workers refusing Covid shot for their children

The Department of Health has asked the Department of Education for the list of children.

Nguyen Huu Hung, deputy director of the health department, told VnExpress Wednesday his agency has no plans to coerce the 579, but would only seek to cajole them.

It has been exhorting people working in the health sector to set an example in the fight against the pandemic by getting themselves and their families vaccinated.

A survey by education officials in District 1 found 879 children had not received the vaccine, and 579 of them had parents working in hospitals and medical centers.

The Ministry of Health has said that vaccination is not mandatory for children aged five to 11 though encouraged.

As of Sep. 1, more than 6.2 million children across the country aged five to 17 had received two doses, or 55.6% of the demographic, according to the ministry.

HCMC was among the five localities with the lowest vaccination rate: 31.7%.

Rounding off the five are Ba Ria-Vung Tau, Binh Duong, Da Nang, and Quang Nam.