PH eyes COVID-19 vaccination of kids aged 5 – 11 by February

MANILA, Philippines — The country may start vaccinating children aged 5 to 11 against COVID-19 by the first week of February at the earliest, the chairperson of the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) said Friday.

NVOC chairperson and Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said that the approved Pfizer vaccines for the said age group have yet to arrive in the country.

“Mayroon na pong approved na emergency use authorization for Pfizer only for 5 to 11. Ang sistema, ibang formulation po ang gagamitin natin sa 5 to 11 years old. Hindi po ito ‘yung ginagamit ng 12 years and above,” Cabotaje said at the Laging Handa public briefing.

(We already have emergency use authorization for Pfizer vaccines for those aged 5 to 11. The formulation of the vaccines for 5 to 11 years old is different from that for 12 years old and above.)

Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje (Screengrab from RTVM)

“Hihintayin pa natin ang pagdating ng ating inorder na Pfizer [vaccines] for 5 to 11. Ang tinitingnan nating date, earliest, first week of February, maumpisahan natin ang pagbabakuna ng 5 to 11. Hindi pa po tayo nagbabakuna ng 5 to 11. Parating pa lang po ang bakuna,” she added.

(We are waiting for the Pfizer vaccines for 5 to 11 years old that we have ordered. We are eyeing to start, at the earliest, by the first week of February. We have not vaccinated those aged 5 to 11. We are still waiting for the vaccines.)

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the emergency use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for 5 to 11 years old in December 2021.

(REUTERS/file photo)

Pending the delivery of these vaccines, only children aged at least 12 are currently being vaccinated in the country.

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