FILE PHOTO: Health Usec. Myrna Cabotaje. Screengrab from RTVM
Teens aged 12 to 17 may finally get their first booster shot by next week after the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) gave its green light to give more COVID-19 doses to the younger age group.
Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said on Friday that the HTAC had submitted its recommendation for the rollout of booster shots for the 12 to 17 age group. She said the Department of Health, through the National Vaccination Operation Center (NVOC), is considering the release of the implementing guidelines by Monday.
“For the 12 to 17 [age group], there is already a recommendation from HTAC for booster. So, they already submitted and we’re just looking at how to have the guidelines … By Monday, we will release the guidelines,” Cabotaje told reporters in a vaccination drive program at a mall in Quezon City.
Around 14.6 million individuals or only about 26 percent of the eligible population had received their first booster as of June 13.
According to Cabotaje, who is the NVOC chair, there is still no go-signal for the rollout of second booster shot for the general adult population.
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