Philippines to study COVID-19 vaccination for children below 5 years old

The Philippines will look into the possible vaccination of children below 5 years old against COVID-19, an official of the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) said Thursday.

“Aaralin nang husto. Depends sa studies abroad and if may vaccines although some include below 5 years old. We will see sino may EUA (emergency use authorization) at ano ire-recommend ng HTAC (Health Technology Assessment Council),” NVOC chairperson Myrna Cabotaje told GMA News Online.

(We will study it thoroughly. It depends on the studies abroad and if there are vaccines, although some include below 5 years. We will see which has an EUA and what the HTAC will recommend.)

According to Reuters, the United States has begun vaccinating children as young as six months after the US Food and Drug Administration authorized Moderna for children aged six months to five years and Pfizer for children aged six months to four years.

Cabotaje said the country’s vaccine program is already in place for the incoming administration.

However, she said there is a need to advocate the inoculation of booster shots and the primary series.

“Need to advocate for boosters and those who have not received their primary doses. Need to see if vax will be available for below 5 years old and what will be given EUA & HTAC recommendation,” she said.

“Baka ito ang ma-procure later unless may donations tayo from COVAX & other bilateral partners. Otherwise, we have sufficient vaccines given the jab rates natin now,” she added.

(Maybe this will be procured later unless we have donations from COVAX and other bilateral partners. Otherwise, we have sufficient vaccines given our current jab rates.)

Just recently, the Philippines rolled out its booster dose vaccination for immunocompromised children aged 12 to 17 years old. Authorities said the vaccination of the rest of the age group will begin after a few days.

As of June 20, the Philippines has vaccinated more than 70 million Filipinos or 77.85% of the target population. Meanwhile, almost 9.5 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 and 3.3 million children aged 5 to 11 have also been fully vaccinated.—AOL, GMA News