The Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) has welcomed the announcement of the Department of Health (DOH) that Pfizer jabs could now be administered to children aged 12 to 15, its spokesperson said Wednesday, June 9.
In an interview with GMA New's Unang Balita, PPS spokesperson Dr. Carmela Kasala said PPS and the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines issued a statement saying children aged 12 to 15 can be vaccinated.
"Right now ang ating thrust ay 18 and above dahil yung mga bakuna natin is actually for 18 and above and nila and ang pinakatinatamaan ng COVID ay ang age group na yun. Ang kabataan hindi masyadong tinatamaan pero syempre may mga a little statistics tayo for COVID-19 but not as much as the elderly and middle-aged group (Right now our thrust is 18 and above because are vaccines are actually for 18 and above because our vaccines were given EUA for those ages. COVID-19 cases usually are from that age group. The youth are not too affected, but of course we have a little statistics for COVID-19 but not as much as the elderly and middle-aged group)," Kasala said.
Kasala also underscored the importance of inoculating children first before the resumption of face-to-face classes.
"Mas maganda nga sana , pero remember the age group for this kabataan is just until years old (It's better if they get vaccinated first, but our EUA only covers until 15 years old), those younger will not be vaccinated yet," she added.
The Philippines has so far received only 193,000 Pfizer from COVAX Facility, although vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said over two million Pfizer doses would be shipped to the country this month.