Indonesia kicks off COVID-19 vaccination for adolescents aged 12 to 17

A girl receives the COVID-19 vaccine in Jakarta, Indonesia, on July 1, 2021. Indonesia's Health Ministry on Thursday launched the mass COVID-19 vaccination for children of 12 to 17 years old as the national capital held its first mass inoculation for adolescents. Children at the age of 12 to 17 years old are eligible to get Sinovac vaccine jabs after the country's National Agency of Drug and Food Control issued the emergency use authorization last Sunday. (Xinhua/Agung Kuncahya B.)

Indonesia's Health Ministry on Thursday launched the mass COVID-19 vaccination for children of 12 to 17 years old as the national capital held its first mass inoculation for adolescents.

At least 100 students had their first doses in a vaccination event at a public high school in Central Jakarta. The city administration is targeting to vaccinate as many as 1.3 million children in schools and healthcare facilities.

Children at the age of 12 to 17 years old are eligible to get Sinovac vaccine jabs after the country's National Agency of Drug and Food Control issued the emergency use authorization last Sunday.

As of July 1, over 30.48 million people have received their first vaccine doses, while 13.67 million others have gotten their second doses.

The Southeast Asian country is currently working to inoculate the targeted 181.5 million people, about 70 percent of its total population, by March 2022.