Gov’t discussing COVID vaccination of children below 12 — NVOC chair

(FILE PHOTO) Health Usec. Myrna Cabotaje. Screengrab from RTVM video

MANILA, Philippines — The government is already discussing the possible COVID-19 vaccination of minors below 12 years old in 2022, the chairperson of the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) said on Wednesday.

“Yes, we are considering. Actually, we have considered that for our plans for next year’s vaccination of below 12 years old,” Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said in an online media forum when asked if authorities are already discussing the vaccination of children below 12.

However, Cabotaje noted that there should first be a recommendation from the Health Technology Assessment Council and that the appropriate vaccine for the said age group should first be identified.

“But napag-uusapan na ‘yan at nilagay na ang planners ng programa for next year [But that is already being discussed and we already have plans for next year],” she said.

Before this, health officials in the United States already gave the final clearance for administering Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for ages five to 11.

The Philippines’ COVID-19 vaccination for minors aged 12 to 17 and with comorbidities started on October 15. This was later expanded to vaccination of children within the same age bracket, including those without comorbidities, on Wednesday, November 3, in Metro Manila and other areas ready for pediatric vaccination.

The nationwide rollout of pediatric vaccination against coronavirus is scheduled on November 5.

Only COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer and Moderna are so far approved for minors 12 to 17 years of age in the Philippines.

JPV