Vaccination of 5 to 11-year-old kids to begin in Metro Manila

According to National Task Force against COVID-19 (NTF) medical adviser Ted Herbosa said in a Laging Handa Public briefing on Tuesday, January 25, that the vaccination against COVID-19 of kids aged 5 to 11 years old will begin next week in Metro Manila.

Herbosa added that the country is set to receive the initial shipment of 780,000 doses of Pfizer-brand pediatric formulation of vaccines against COVID-19 on January 31.

He added that the Philippines is expected to receive 1.8 million more jabs in the coming days, which are part of the 15 million vaccine doses procured by the government for the vaccination of children against COVID-19.

According to the medical adviser, the government eyes to inoculate about seven million children in the particular age group across the Philippines. Moreover, vaccination to other areas outside of NCR will be expanded by mid-February,

Earlier, national vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said that vaccination of 5 to 11-year-old children will begin on February 4, adding that memorandum guidelines are to be released within the week, while training for vaccinations is conducted by the Department of Health (DOH) will proceed.

According to Herbosa, lower doses will be given to children belonging to the 5 to 11-year-old category, in comparison to those belonging in the 12-17 age group.