Only 3 cities preparing for kids’ COVID-19 vax

KIDS’ TURN: Teens, accompanied by their parents, get inoculated against COVID-19 in Taguig City as the government ramps up its vaccine rollout, which now covers children 12 to 17 years old. (Photo by MARIANNE BERMUDEZ / Philippine Daily Inquirer)

MANILA, Philippines — Only the cities of Taguig, Pateros, and Manila have begun preparations for the vaccination of children aged 5 to 11, which the national government said could start in two weeks’ time.

After the Food and Drug Authority (FDA) approved the use of a Pfizer vaccine for the age group on Dec. 23, Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, said the government may start vaccinating the age group by the second or third week of January.

He said the government planned to inoculate 14.7 million all over the country.

In a Facebook post on Thursday, the Taguig City government started listing up for the vaccination of the said age group through the Taguig Registry for Access and Citizen Engagement (Trace).

The local government said registration could be accomplished at trace.taguig.gov.ph or at Trace kiosks in barangay halls.

“For ages 5 to 11 years old, Taguig City will commence COVID-19 vaccination for this age group as soon as the Department of Health (DOH) releases guidelines,” it said.

15M doses secured

In a Facebook post on Tuesday, Pateros also urged parents to register their children for inoculation against COVID-19 through a provided quick-response code.

Similarly, Manila City Mayor Francisco Domagoso also urged parents to register as early as now for the anti-COVID shot.

The FDA earlier approved the use of Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine for children within the said age group.

The Pfizer vaccine supposedly has an efficacy rate of above 90 percent for the age group and is already in use for the age group in the United States, Europe and Canada.

Galvez said earlier that the government already secured 15 million doses of Pfizer vaccines, which were of lower dosage and concentration than those given to adults, back in October.

The first batch of Pfizer vaccines intended for the specific age group will start arriving by next month and the next tranches will be delivered in February and March.

Still waiting for syringes

The vaccine czar said he also asked the COVAX facility and the United Nations Children’s Fund if they could spare the Philippines some of its Pfizer vaccines specifically for younger children.

The DOH clarified, however, that they are still awaiting syringes, which officials said were already on order.

“Preparations are still underway for the rollout of COVID-19 vaccines for the said age group. The National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center will announce the exact start date as soon as COVID-19 vaccines suitable for ages 5 to 11 and its appropriate syringes become available,” the DOH said.

“While waiting for COVID-19 vaccines to be rolled out for this pediatric group, we recommend that children complete their routine vaccination to be protected from more contagious and fatal diseases, like measles, rubella, tetanus and diphtheria,” it added.