FILE PHOTO: A teenager receives a dose of a vaccine against the new coronavirus disease (COVID-19) after Israel approved the usage of the vaccine for youngsters aged 12-15, at a Clalit healthcare maintenance organization in Ashkelon, Israel June 6, 2021. REUTERS/Amir Cohen/File Photo
MANILA, Philippines — Vaccinating individuals aged 17 and below are still not allowed, the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) said Thursday.
In its Advisory No. 74, NVOC said that all regional and local vaccination facilities are reminded that vaccinating the pediatric population or minors within the said age bracket is prohibited at this time.
According to Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje, who chairs the NVOC, vaccinating children 17 years old and below would only start once the supply of anti-COVID-19 vaccines is sufficient.
“The Department of Health All Experts Group reiterates their initial recommendation that the vaccination of children and adolescents, even those with comorbidities, shall only begin once the supply of vaccines is adequate and stable,” she said.
“This position is supported by the Joint Position Statement of the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) and the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP) issued on August 9,” she added.
There have been calls for the government to start vaccinating young people against COVID-19 as there were observations that recent patients who were infected with the disease are younger, and are not immune to the coronavirus as they are yet to be inoculated with the vaccines.
The idea came out after the Philippine General Hospital said they would increase the capacity of their intensive care unit facility for children after several kids were admitted for COVID-19 infection.
READ: COVID-hit kids are a growing concern at PGH
But while groups have agreed to the idea that children must be vaccinated also, they also urged the public to understand that vaccinating adults against the pandemic would also protect children, who are primarily staying at home.
READ: Pediatric groups recommend adults get COVID-19 vaccinations first
READ: DOH not yet keen on vaccinating minors: Protecting adults also protect children
The government is currently banking on vaccinations against COVID-19 to usher in herd immunity and combat the current uptick in infections, believed to be caused by the Delta variant of the SARS-CoV-2 virus.
The Delta variant threat has forced the government to again place Metro Manila and other areas under an enhanced community quarantine (ECQ) for two weeks, to curb the rise in cases.
Earlier, DOH recorded 12,439 new COVID-19 infections — the second-straight day with over 12,000 new cases — pushing the active case count to 87,663.