First batch of Pfizer jabs for 5 to 11-year-old children to arrive in PH on Feb.3, NTF says

The first batch of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines to be used for the immunization of children aged 5 to 11 are expected to arrive on Thursday, February 3, 2022.

According to an advisory released by National Task Force, about 780,000 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech's COVID-19 vaccine formulated for children will be transported via Air Hong Kong flight LD456 and delivered at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) Terminal 3 at around 9:05 PM.

The Pfizer vaccine against COVID-19 formulated for children will arrive in the country ahead of the scheduled pilot implementation of the vaccination of the children under the particular age bracket on Friday to Saturday, February 4 and 5, 2022.

The national government aims to inoculate around 14.7 million children under the particular age bracket, says the National Vaccination Operations Center.

According to reports, at least 32 vaccination sites located in Metro Manila will be operated for the initial rollout of the vaccination. It will then be expanded to other hospitals and health facilities in other parts of Metro Manila, as well as other regions.

National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 chief implementer and vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the vaccination of children will be done by phasing or sequence as the sector is important and sensitive, considering that this is the first time the children’s formulation of COVID-19 vaccine will be used.

He added that it needs to be determined if it will be safe and effective for everybody.

The government hopes the inoculation of children as young as five to 11 years old will make way for the augmentation of face-to-face classes in the country as kids will already gain a stronger layer of protection against COVID-19.