Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said Tuesday children and teens could get vaccinated against COVID-19 by the fourth quarter of 2021.
According to Galvez, most COVID-19 vaccines approved for minors will arrive in the last quarter of the year.
The COVID-19 manufactured by Chinese firm Sinovac and American drugmakers Moderna and Pfizer have been authorized for children and teenagers.
“Nakikita po namin baka fourth quarter po [magsimula] kasi doon po dadagsa, may makukuha po tayo na mga Pfizer, Sinovac, at ‘yung Moderna,” Galvez said.
(We expect the vaccination of minors to start in the fourth quarter because that’s when we’ll get the bulk of Pfizer, Sinovac, and Moderna shipments.)
According to Galvez, there are around 29 million minors in the Philippines.
“Sinasabi ng experts, hindi natin makukuha ang (Experts say that we won’t achieve) herd immunity if there is a sizeable amount of population that is roaming around unvaccinated,” Galvez said.
The COVID-19 vaccination of children would enable the return of face-to-face classes.
COVID-19 vaccination of minors possible by Q4 2021
The Department of Health (DOH) said Monday experts would study China’s approval on the emergency use of Sinovac Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine for children aged three to 17.
“Magandang balita ‘yan, kung talagang makikita natin na ‘yun talagang pag-aaral ay may accuracy at saka makikita natin na ‘yung basis nila at ‘yung ebidensya nila ay maganda, maganda itong balita hindi lang para sa Pilipinas kung hindi para sa buong mundo,” DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire told reporters.
“Tayo ay laging bukas sa ganitong makabago saka innovative na ginagawa para maexpand natin ang coverage ng ating pagbabakuna. Pagka nabuo na nila ang mga ebidensya at nakumpleto na nila ‘yung mga trial at nagsumite sila dito sa Pilipinas ng revision ng kanilang emergency use authority, pag-aaralan po ‘yan ng ating mga eksperto,” she added.
According to Reuters, China has approved emergency use of Sinovac Biotech’s COVID-19 vaccine in people aged between three and 17, its chairman Yin Weidong told state TV.
China’s mass vaccination drive, which administered 723.5 million doses of vaccines as of June 3, is currently only open to those aged 18 and above.
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