COVID-19 vaccination of kids aged 5 to 11 may begin as early as January — FDA

The vaccination of minors aged 5 to 11 against COVID-19 with the Pfizer vaccine may begin as early as January next year, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Friday.

“Ito pong Pfizer na bakuna na 5 to 11, ang plano po ng ating gobyerno gamitin siguro by January,” FDA director-general Eric Domingo said in a radio interview.

(The government is eyeing to roll out the vaccination of minors 5 to 11 with Pfizer maybe by January.)

Domingo said this is because the government must procure a new purchase for the Pfizer vaccine for 5 to 11 years old.

The National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) earlier said the government is still looking into how many doses will be procured for the age group.

“So kung mag-order po sila siguro early next year magagamit na ito (so if they will order, maybe it can be used early next year),” he said.

According to Domingo, the minors will also be inoculated with two doses but with less volume than those used for adults.

The Department of Health, meanwhile, said there are around 13.5 million children aged 5 to 11 in the country based on the estimated figures last November.

The Philippines on Thursday reported 288 new COVID-19 cases, bringing the nationwide tally to 2,837,903 and active cases to 9,251. — Joahna Lei Casilao/RSJ, GMA News