The government planned to begin the vaccination of 5- to 11-year-old children starting on Feb. 4, following the expected delivery of the first shipment of Pfizer vaccine especially formulated for them. Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., the chief implementer of the National Task Force against COVID-19 (NTF), assuring parents of children at this age that the vaccine would be totally safe.
In a meeting with President Rodrigo Duterte in the MalacaΓ±ang on Monday night, Galvez stated that the Pfizer vaccine had a lower formulation appropriately for children. He also said the government has been more prepared now as it learned from its experiences in vaccinating minors aged 12 to 17.
The plan is to immediately set up two vaccination sites per city in Metro Manila. Where both hospitals and nonhospital vaccination sites will be opened. After one week, vaccination sites will be established in other regions, as Galvez stated. "The supply will arrive next week, and we could roll it out by Feb. 4," Galvez said.
The government, now aiming to inoculate about 14.7 million children within the 5 to 11 age group, the youngest so far authorized to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Dr. Lulu Bravo, executive director of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination, said there was no reason to fear for the safety of the children. Bravo also stated that Filipino children are receiving vaccines against various illnesses for half a century.
SOURCE:
INQUIRER.NET
Published by: Kim Ashley Masagca
Date published: January 27, 2022
Time published: 9:38am
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