Duque backs COVID-19 vaccination of minors

(REUTERS/File Photo)

MANILA, Philippines — Health Secretary Francisco Duque III on Monday expressed support for the proposal to vaccinate children and teenagers against COVID-19 soon, especially those with comorbidities.

“That is also a subject of review and consideration by our vaccine expert panel and also the expert group. And I, for one, wouldn’t mind that we should already start vaccinating children for as long as first, we prioritize which among the children,” Duque said in an interview on ABS-CBN News Channel.

“Those with comorbidities, of course let’s vaccinate them. Because we see now that UP [University of the Philippines] has reported I think six pediatric patients seen to have very serious COVID infection and this is attended by the fact that there’s also comorbidities in two of these six reported pediatric patients,” he added.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (INQUIRER FILE PHOTO)

The Philippine General Hospital (PGH) earlier reported that it has six COVID-stricken pediatric patients.

Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. has said the government may start vaccinating minors aged 12 to 17 by the end of September or October.

Galvez said they have proposed to the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group to include children in the vaccination program, specifically those with comorbidities.

Currently, only Pfizer has an emergency use authorization for the use of its COVID-19 vaccine on children aged 12 to 15.

(AFP/ file photo)

Over 11.2 million or a little over 10 percent of the country’s population has so far been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

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