PGH targets 300 adolescent patients for pilot pediatric vaccination vs. COVID-19

The Philippine General Hospital is set to inoculate around 300 adolescent patients as the pilot of the pediatric vaccination against COVID-19 starts on Friday.

Interviewed on Unang Balita, PGH spokesperson Dr. Jonas del Rosario said the PGH will hold a ceremonial vaccination to mark the start of the inoculation of people aged 12 to 17 at the hospital's premises at 9 a.m.

“Ngayon po, ang sabi sa akin 12 patients muna for the ceremonial vaccination pero next week po ang target ay 300 adolescents,” he said.

(Right now, I was told that we will inoculate 12 patients initially for the ceremonial vaccination, but next week we are targeting 300 adolescents.)

Del Rosario said different divisions of sub-specialties in the hospital picked adolescent patients that can receive the dose of COVID-19 vaccine considering their comorbidities.

The hospital called the parents of patients and offered the vaccination.

According to Del Rosario, the hospital will use Pfizer’s COVID-19 vaccine.

The Philippines is set to start its vaccination of people aged 12 to 17 on October 15, Friday.

According to a report on Unang Balita, the pilot will be split into two phases: first, covering people aged 15 to 17; second, aged 12 to 14.

The pilot of vaccination for people aged 12 to 17 will cover eight hospitals:

• Philippine General Hospital
• Philippine Children's Medical Center
• Fe Del Mundo Medical Center
• Makati Medical Center
• St. Luke's Medical Center
• Philippine Heart Center
• National Children's Hospital
• Pasig City's Children Hospital

The requirements for the pediatric vaccination are medical clearance from doctor, informed consent of parent or guardian, assent from vaccine recipient.

Initially, the Department of Health prioritizes adolescents who have the following comorbidities:

• genetic conditions
• auto-immune disorders
• neurologic conditions
• metabolic and endocrine conditions
• cardiovascular diseases
• obesity
• HIV
• tuberculosis
• chronic respiratory disease
• renal disorders
• hepatobiliary disorders

—KBK, GMA News