With the rising number of COVID-19 cases across the country, you might be wondering when the kids will be able to get jabbed. As of now, only people above 18 years old are allowed to get vaccinated.
Well, it looks like kids and teens will get the opportunity to get jabbed sooner than later. As per CNN Philippines, Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the country’s goal is to be able to vaccinate minors aged 12 to 17 by the end of September or October.
“We proposed really to the NITAG (Interim National Immunization Technical Advisory Group for COVID-19 vaccines) and to our experts that we have to include children as soon as possible considering that they will be also vulnerable, particularly those children with comorbidities,” Galvez said.
To put things into perspective, Pfizer is the only vaccine manufacturer to receive a regulatory approval to use their COVID-19 vaccine for 12 to 15 years old. The Food and Drug Administration is also studying the application of Sinovac to administer the vaccines for the 3 to 17 age group.
What does the Department of Health (DOH) have to say about the matter? The Department of Health believes it is not yet the right time to vaccinate the younger population since the vaccine supply in the country remains unstable. Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said adults, such as the elderly, people with comorbidities, and essential workers, are still the sectors most vulnerable to getting severe COVID-19.
Considering how challenging it has been for people to get vaccinated amid the supply deficiency, the plan to pursue vaccinations for minors this September or October proves to be an ambitious goal. However, with the ongoing rampage of the more transmissible Delta variant, it’s totally understandable that people are looking to protect the youth even more.
