COVID-19 jabs for kids aged 5-11 could start by January 2022 to combat Omicron variant — Galvez
MANILA, Philippines — The government is planning to inoculate more minors by early next year to combat the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), a move now being eyed with the threat of the heavily mutated Omicron variant overseas.
Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr., Monday, says they'll push for COVID-19 vaccines for children aged five to 11 as long as a new emergency use authorization (EUA) is issued by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) by the end of 2021.
"Our plan is, once the [EUA] comes out, immediately we will execute it [vaccination]. We plan on doing it by the first quarter of 2022. So January we'll start and we want to finish that immediately in the first quarter," said Galvez in Filipino in an interview by CNN Philippines.
"The goal is that pediatric vaccination should be finished immediately [by the first quarter of 2022] so that our school opening could be started while protecting children from the Omicron [variant]."
FDA director general earlier said that COVID-19 vaccinations for children below 12 could be done by the end of 2021, with Pfizer and Sinovac among the brands already preparing their data and requirements for submission.
So far, only 12-year-olds and above could be given the life-saving vaccines. Dr. Alethea De Guzman, officer in charge of the Department of Health epidemiology bureau, said this morning that the Omicron variant has over 50 mutations which may cause increased transmissibility and immune evasion — a factor that could affect the efficacy of vaccines against the new variant of concern.
However, De Guzman says further studies still need to be done to prove if it spells more hazards to children.
"We don’t know yet the possibilities, the vulnerabilities of children with this [Omicron] variant," adds Galvez.
The DOH last Sunday already reported over 2.83 cases of COVID-19 infections in the Philippines since 2020. Among said number, 48,205 have already died.
A new thread on the Philippines' vaccination program in 2021 in the government's revised objective to reach "population protection." Bookmark our COVID-19 and Vaccination Dashboard for the latest figures on the pandemic in the Philippines. — Main image: The STAR/Michael Varcas, file
The city government of Valenzuela City announces that it is temporarily suspending the use of Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccines as they wait for more vaccine supplies.
ADVISORY: Pansamantalang inihinto ang pagbabakuna ng Pfizer bivalent COVID-19 vaccine sa Valenzuela habang naghihintay ng karagdagang supply. (????: Valenzuela LGU) pic.twitter.com/j4yO52jgMN
— PTVph (@PTVph) August 7, 2023
Pasig City government announces the schedule of COVID-19 vaccination in the city from July 15 until July 28.
It advises residents that first, second dose and first and 2nd booster shots are available on a first come, first serve basis in its designated vaccination sites.
Among the available vaccine brands is Sinovac for 6 years old and above. It adds that there are no Pfizer COVID-19 vaccines yet for residents age 12 and above.
Schedule ng Pagbabakuna sa Pasig City |07/25/2023-07/28/2023 | First Come, First Served Basis
— Pasig Info (@PasigInfo) July 24, 2023
Tingnan ang material para sa vaccination sites kung saan makakapagpa - 1st at 2nd dose, at 1st at 2nd booster shot; at kung ano ang mga dapat dalhin sa araw ng pagbabakuna
1/3 pic.twitter.com/yqKG0S41CM
President Ferdinand “Bongbong” Marcos Jr. to lead the rollout of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccination at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City. — The STAR/Helen Flores
President Marcos will lead the launch of the bivalent COVID-19 vaccination at the Philippine Heart Center in Quezon City on Wednesday morning. (Photo courtesy of MPC pool) | @helenmflores pic.twitter.com/wbB2An7xgg
— The Philippine Star (@PhilippineStar) June 21, 2023
The Department of Health reminds public that they can still avail of the COVID-19 booster and bivalent booster. It reposted an infographic that determines when it is best to get the first two boosters and the bivalent booster.
Senior citizens and frontline health workers may now get their second booster shots, particularly mRNA jabs such as Moderna and Pfizer, the Department of Health announces. — Gaea Katreena Cabico
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