Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, June 27) — A presidential adviser of outgoing President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday called on the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) to ‘move faster’ in rolling out COVID-19 booster doses for healthy minors aged 12-17 years old.
“I’m appealing again to HTAC to please, please, for the nation, let’s move faster. Let’s approve the 12-17 to get their first booster shot kasi papasok na sila sa eskwela [because they will be returning to school] this coming August,” Presidential Adviser for Entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion said in a public briefing.
The government already approved the administration of first COVID-19 booster doses to immunocompromised minors early last week.
The rollout for healthy adolescents was supposed to start last weekend. However, it was postponed after HTAC said that it could only continue when the adult population reaches 40-70% booster coverage.
“Ang bagal ng galaw nila (HTAC) so nahihirapan na rin ‘yung DOH (Department of Health). So, maraming nafu-frustrate ngayon dito sa atin,” Concepcion noted.
[Translation: The HTAC moves slowly so the DOH is also having difficulties. So, many are frustrated right now.]
Concepcion, who also initiated the formation of a group of professionals in the field of health and economy now known as ‘Advisory Council of Experts’ (ACE), recommended the division of responsibilities of the HTAC and the vaccine expert panel. He expressed hope that this would be considered by the next administration.
“Maybe they can make… for all (decisions on) vaccines, bigay na lang sa vaccine expert panel para mas mabilis. ‘Yung ibang mga bagay, dyan na lang sa HTAC, pero pagdating sa mga bakuna, palagay ko ‘yung decision dapat dito sa vaccine expert panel,” he shared.
[Translation: Maybe they can make… for all decisions on vaccines, give it to the vaccine expert panel to make it faster. Other matters will then be under the HTAC, but when it comes to vaccines, I believe the decision should come from the vaccine expert panel.]
