Gov’t reports anti-COVID vaccination of 263,000 kids 5 to 11 years old

FILE PHOTO: A child gets vaccinated against COVID-19 in Vigan City, Ilocos Sur province during the launch of the pediatric vaccination for 5-11 years old on Monday, February 14, 2022. | PHOTO: Vigan City government

MANILA, Philippines — The National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) reported Thursday that 263,000 children aged 5 to 11 have now received a dose of Pfizer’s anti-coronavirus vaccine that is specifically formulated for minors.

“Our latest data for the [kids aged] 5 to 11, nagsimula po sa NCR ‘yan noong February 7 tapos nag-spread po sa ibang lugar sa buong Pilipinas, [as of] February 14 ay 263,000 na po,” NVOC chair and Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said during the vaccination of children and relatives of Department of Health (DOH) officials and employees at SM City San Lazaro in Manila.

(Our latest data for the vaccination of kids aged five to 11, which started in NCR on February 7 and was later implemented in other areas in the country, shows that 263,000 have been vaccinated as of February 14.)

Meanwhile, 8.1 million minors 12 to 17 years old were already fully vaccinated against COVID-19, according to Cabotaje.

“With the increasing number of children being vaccinated against COVID-19, the promise of our children’s future becomes clearer and the Filipino hope to mitigate COVID-19 nears fulfillment,” she said.

According to the NVOC chair, the vaccination of young children and relatives of DOH employees is a testament to the safety and efficacy of vaccines for minors.

“Sabi ng mga nag-i-interview sa akin, dapat may anak, pamangkin, apo ang mga DOH officials para maipakita na vaccines are safe,” Cabotaje said.

(Those who interview me tell me that kids, nephews, nieces, and grandchildren of DOH officials should be vaccinated to show that vaccines are safe.)

“Thank you to all of you. Our presence here confirms our firm belief that may benefits ang ating (there are benefits from) COVID-19 vaccination that we are offering to our next generation, our children,” she added.

Currently, 483 vaccination sites around the country cater to the inoculation of minors against COVID-19, Cabotaje said.

As of February 14, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said more than 61 million Filipinos have been fully vaccinated against the new coronavirus disease while 9 million have already received their booster shot.

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