KATHMANDU: Children in the age group of 12 to 17 are being administered a booster dose against COVID-19 from Friday.

According to the decision made by the Ministry of Health on June 7, booster doses will be given to the age group of 12 to 17 years. Previously, the booster dose was used only in the age group of 18 years and above.

Although the Moderna and Pfizer vaccines are used in children under the age of 17, either of the two vaccines can be used for booster doses, according to the Vaccine Branch. For booster doses, two doses of the vaccine must be completed within three months.

According to doctors, children should be given 0.3 ml of Pfizer vaccine as a booster and 0.25 ml of modern vaccine as a booster.

So far, 5,058,965 doses of booster vaccine have been used in the age group of 18 years and above, according to the Ministry of Health. Across the country, 85.6 percent of the target population over the age of 12 has been vaccinated so far.

The ministry also said that preparations are being made to vaccinate children under the age of five. According to the Ministry, 4.9 million children will be vaccinated in two phases starting June 23.