PRC starts giving booster shots to 12-17 age group

MANILA, Philippines — The Philippine Red Cross (PRC) has started administering COVID-19 booster shots to the 12 to 17 age group.

The PRC said its vaccination center at the corner of Apo and Pinatubo streets in Barangay Barangka Ilaya in Mandaluyong City is open to those who are qualified for booster shots every Friday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.

The initiative is part of the agency’s efforts to support the government’s vaccination drive for adolescents, according to PRC chairman Richard Gordon.

“I encourage parents with children aged 12 to 17 years who are fully vaccinated to have the latter be administered booster shots for their protection,” Gordon said in Filipino in a statement.

Those in the age bracket who had their second dose five months ago or earlier may walk in at the PRC’s vaccination site with a parent or legal guardian.

They should bring valid identification cards and their vaccination cards.

As of July 7, the PRC had administered 1,207,654 doses of COVID-19 vaccines, 105,730 of which were boosters.

It has fully vaccinated 374,395 individuals.