COVID-19 vaccinations for all minors aged 12-17 to start on Nov. 3
The nationwide rollout of COVID-19 vaccinations for all minors aged 12 to 17 will begin on Nov. 3.
The move was announced by the Department of Health (DOH) after the first phase of the pediatric vaccination, wherein only minors with comorbidities were allowed to be vaccinated.
According to the DOH, there are over 12.7 million children aged 12 to 17 in the Philippines in 2021.
"Pfizer and Moderna vaccines will still be used among children during the nationwide rollout," said DOH Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Singh-Vergeire. "Further details and the guidelines with regard to the nationwide expansion of pediatric vaccination will be released once finalized."
Over 18,666 minors with comorbidities have been inoculated with their first dose, with 28 hospitals currently administering the vaccines to children.
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said that 50 additional vaccination sites nationwide will be operational by the end of the week to cater to more pediatric vaccinations.
As of writing, over 30 million Filipinos have received their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, with a total of 26 million being fully vaccinated against the virus.