Costa Rica has become the first country in the world to make Covid-19 vaccinations mandatory for children.
The jab will join the extensive list of basic childhood vaccinations already required by law.
The country signed a deal with Pfizer to acquire doses to start vaccinating all under-12s from March next year.
Earlier this week, the US health regulatory bodies approved the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine for children aged five to 11.
Most children are unlikely to get seriously ill if they catch Covid-19 but may still be infectious, even with no symptoms. The vaccine can help stop them from spreading the virus to others.
Costa Rica’s deal with Pfizer will see it receive 3.5 million doses, of which 1.5 million will be reserved for those aged five to 11.
