Bolivia: students required to present coronavirus vaccination card to begin school year

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – “Vaccination to fight the Covid-19 pandemic is now included in the regular vaccination program,” said Vice-Minister of Health Alejandra Hidalgo.

“This means that just as children’s vaccination cards are presented when they enter pre-school or kindergarten, vaccination cards or vaccination certificates will also be requested for children entering primary and secondary school,” the official said.

The statement was published by ABI state agency, in response to questions on the scope of an agreement signed last week by the national and regional governments to expedite vaccination of the population aged 5 to 18, among other issues.

According to the Vice-Minister, the government decided to include the coronavirus in the list of diseases regularly covered by the Extended Immunization Program (PAI) and mandatory for all students.

“It has been decided that vaccination to fight the pandemic will be included in the PAI or regular vaccination; this means that parents will be asked to present the immunization card for next year’s school enrollment,” Hidalgo said.

Vaccination against coronavirus in Bolivia is voluntary, but virtually all regional governments requested the Administration to make it compulsory at least for children and adolescents.

President Luis Arce’s government’s decision was applauded by several officials, among them opposition mayor of La Paz Iván Arias.

The population eligible for vaccination in Bolivia amounts to 10.2 million people, including some 3 million children aged 5 to 18 years newly included in the campaign, according to official figures.

By Monday, the vaccination program had reached 9.4 million administrations, of which just over 800,000 were of children and adolescents, including first and second doses.