Students 12 to 17 years old get their first dose of COVID-19 vaccine in Lubao, Pampanga. (Photo from the Pampanga provincial government)
MANILA, Philippines — About 6.5 million minors aged 12 to 17 years have so far been vaccinated against COVID-19, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Thursday.
“Tuwang tuwa kami kasi maganda na magface-to-face na ang ating mga estudyante,” he said in an awarding ceremony in Mandaluyong City.
(We are happy because students can now attend in-person classes.)
The government started inoculating minors from 12 to 17 years old in October.
Meanwhile, the total number of fully vaccinated individuals in the country is now at 39.7 million, Galvez said.
About 57.64 million Filipinos have also at least received a first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine.
Galvez said the government was able to inoculate 10.25 million Filipinos during its national vaccination drive held from Nov. 29 to Dec. 3.
The drive was supposed to be only three days but was extended upon the request of many local government units, Galvez said.
The government aims to hold another round of the massive vaccination drive from Dec. 15 to 17, with the goal of completing the doses of 7 million individuals.