Galvez: Vaccination for children 12-17 y.o. to start mid-October

CEBU, Philippines —  The Philippines is looking at vaccinating children ages 12-17 by mid-October and the general public after, COVID-19 vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez said yesterday, citing steady supply of the vaccines.

“Kailangan na po nating open sa other sectors,” said Galvez during the Talk to The People of President Rodrigo Duterte program.

Galvez, however, said that based on the recommendations, children with comorbidities will be the top priority, along with children of healthcare workers.

Galvez noted an increasing request to finally inoculate children, especially those with comorbidities, following the deaths of many children due to COVID-19.

The rise in the number of younger people being infected by COVID-19 has been largely blamed on the prevalence of its Delta variant.

In fact, infected people under the age bracket of 10-under have been increasing.

So far, the Food and Drug Administration has already given Emergency Use Authority (EUA) to Pfizer and Moderna for the inoculation of children 12-17.

The country is expecting to receive an additional 20 million doses of vaccines in the first week of October apart from the 23.75 million COVID-19 shots in stock.

Galvez said the U.S. government is donating 10 million doses of Pfizer for the country. So far, the country has already received three million of such doses.

In allowing the inoculation of younger individuals, Galvez also noted the hesitancy of many seniors.

He said they are looking at having a “family approach” to the vaccination in the hope of achieving a bandwagon.

Galvez’s recommendation also came after President Duterte gave a go signal on the conduct of a limited face-to-face class in selected schools nationwide.

Slow turnout

Meanwhile, Galvez also noted the slow turnout of vaccines in several regions, including Region 7.

“Mayroon po tayong mga regions na medyo mabagal po ang vaccination. Natutulog po yung kanilang bakuna, doon po sa kanilang mga rehiyon...dahil kasi mabagal po ang (pagbabakuna),” said Galvez.

Galvez said he has already asked help from the Cabinet officers in the regions, as well as from the Department of Interior and Local Government (DILG), the Philippine National Police, and the Armed Forces of the Philippines, to help them in the vaccination rollout in regions with lower vaccination rates.

“Naghingi kami ng tulong sa ating mga CORDS…o yung tinatawag nating mga Cabinet Officers sa mga regions. Meron po tayong cabinet officers per regions sa ating NTF-ELCAC. At saka naghingi na rin po kami ng tulong kay SILG (Interior Secretary Eduardo Ano)  para palakasin po ang capacity ng Region 3, Region 4A, Region 6, Region 7 and Region 11, and also yung ibang mga regions na vulnerable po ngayon,” said Galvez.

Ano readily responded to Galvez’s request, saying he has already cascaded such request to the LGUs.

“Atin pong inatasan ang ating mga LGUs na maghanda sa paparating na mga bakuna, at papaspasan natin ang pagbabakuna sa ating mga kababayan lalo pat maraming paparating na bulto ng bakuna, ang isang mabisang paraan para ma istop ang transmission nitong pandemic na to,” said Ano. — JMD (FREEMAN)