The Parliamentary Health Committee held a meeting Monday, wherein the Minister of Health, Feras Al-Hawari, confirmed that COVID-19 vaccines for children in Jordan are optional and will always remain in the hands of parents or legal guardians.

Hawari said that the Ministry of Health has allocated the Pfizer vaccines for children in the Kingdom, noting that the pace of vaccination is going well, which will contribute to preventing any expected wave of COVID-19.

Hawari indicated that the national vaccination campaign witnessed a wide turnout during the past days.

He pointed out that there are countries that have started giving the Chinese vaccines to those under 18 years old. But, he said that children in Jordan will only be receiving Pfizer jabs.

Hawari spoke about the vaccination of school students, stressing that the government will not prevent any unvaccinated students from entering schools, pointing out that the decision to vaccinate children is not linked to the return of schools and public education, but moreso, to allow families to travel to countries that require immunization against the coronavirus.

He added, "What concerns us is preventing the transmission of infection from parents to students while returning to school."

But, he noted, “What matters to us is to prevent the transmission of infection from parents to students while returning to school.”

Notably, Hawari indicated that 60 percent of recent COVID-19 infections in the Kingdom occurred in the 20-45 age group. 

He pointed to the measly vaccination rates of those over age 60 in the Kingdom, noting that there are 150,000 Jordanians over 60 who have not received the coronavirus vaccine.

He pointed out that Aqaba has returned as close as possible to its pre-COVID-19 era, and that the vaccination rate has reached about 65 percent in the city.