Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, January 28) — The government is eyeing to hold vaccination days for children aged 5-11 in the National Capital Region on Feb. 4 and 5.
In a statement, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the initial roll out of inoculation for the age group will be held in 24 hospital and non-hospital-based facilities in cities across the region. He did not specify the sites.
The Philippine Medical Association (PMA) earlier suggested holding vaccination days for children to fast track their COVID-19 inoculation and ensure that parents will have the time to bring their kids to inoculation sites.
RELATED: COVID-19 vaccination for kids 5-11: What you need to know
Galvez, chief implementer of the National Task Force Against COVID-19, said official announcement and draft policy for the immunization program of the age group “will be released within the week.”
During this week’s televised Cabinet briefing, he unveiled the plan to start inoculating the 5-11 age group on Feb. 4. This will be done in phases starting with Metro Manila before it is expanded to other areas, he said.
Galvez, however, noted that the task force is open to simultaneously hold the pilot implementation in NCR with other regions.
Currently, Pfizer is the only vaccine brand granted emergency use authorization for pediatric use. Vaccines to be used were reformulated, meaning they have lower dosage compared to those used on children 12 and above.
The government aims to inoculate about 14.7 million children belonging to the 5 to 11 age group.
Meanwhile, Galvez said they are also preparing for the administration of booster doses to children, pending the release of amended emergency use of vaccines and the green light from vaccine experts.
“Bumibili po tayo ng dagdag na 15 million doses, para matugunan ‘yung pag-booster sa 15.56 million na batang [5-11],” he said.
[Translation: We are procuring an additional 15 million doses for the booster shot of 15.56 million children aged 5-11.]
