Gov’t eyes Feb. 1-7 ‘mini rollout’ for vaxxing of kids aged 5 to 11

A minor gets his vaccine against COVID-19 during the launch of pediatric inoculation in Olongapo City. (Photo courtesy of Olongapo City Information Office)

MANILA, Philippines — The government is eyeing a “mini rollout” from Feb. 1 to 7 for the COVID-19 vaccination of children aged 5 to 11, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said Wednesday.

“Yung Feb. 1 to 7, baka dun po tayo magsimula ng [We’re looking at Feb. 1 to 7 to start our] mini rollout,” Galvez said in a Teleradyo interview.

According to Galvez, the delivery of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children 5 to 11-year-old is expected to arrive in the country on Jan. 31.

“Planado na po kami sa children vaccination kasi isa yun sa main objective natin, kasi gusto po natin na makapag-open ng classes at ma-lift yung restrictions sa mga bata,” he added.

(We have planned the vaccination for children because it is among our main objectives because we want classes to open and restrictions on children to be lifted.)

Galvez, meanwhile, said the government also plans to finish the booster vaccination of the 12 to 17-year-olds during the first quarter of the year.

“Ang ating 5 to 11, magsimula na rin po tayo this coming first quarter at matapos din natin ang booster by second quarter,” he added.

(For children aged 5 to 11, we want to start their booster vaccination this first quarter and to finish it by the second quarter.)

During the second quarter of the year, the government is also eyeing to start the COVID-19 vaccination of about 11.11 million children aged zero to four.

/MUF