Doctors: Raise COVID-19 vax among elderly, kids first before easing curbs in NCR

In a Laging Handa briefing, Atienza was asked if Metro Manila could already be deescalated to Alert Level 1.

“Sa amin, ang kailangan mabakunahan muna lahat kasi sabi nga na marami pa ring seniors at saka immunocompromised ang hindi pa napapabakunahan, ‘yung bakunahan ng mga kabataan, ang dami pa niyan,” he replied.

(For us, we need to vaccinate all first before we ease restrictions because there are still many senior citizens, immunocompromised individuals, and children who are not yet vaccinated.)

According to Atienza, about 15.8 million children have yet to be vaccinated against COVID-19. The Department of Health earlier said about 69,800 children 5 to 11 years old have so far received the first dose of an anti-coronavirus vaccine.

The PMA chief also said his group would have to assess the situation, especially if people are inclined to follow minimum public health standards, before recommending the easing of pandemic restrictions in the nation’s capital region.

For now, he noted, the PMA urges the government to make the conduct of its vaccination program faster to protect more Filipinos, especially children, against COVID-19.

Metro Manila mayors have recommended that COVID-19 Alert Level 2 status stays in the capital region until the end of February.

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