The government will begin the vaccination of children and adolescents aged 12 to 17 in six hospitals in Metro Manila as part of the pilot implementation of pediatric inoculation in the country, an official leading the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination program disclosed Monday, Oct. 4.
Sec. Carlito Galvez Jr., vaccine czar and chief implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19, said the pilot implementation of pediatric inoculation will kick off at the Philippine Children's Medical Center, National Children's Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, and Fe del Mundo Medical Center all in Quezon City; Pasig City Children's Hospital in Pasig City, and Philippine General Hospital in Manila.
"Gagawin po nating phased at ang uunahin natin ay ang 15 to 17, and then 12 to 14 (We will do it by phase so we will begin with 15 to 17 years old, and then 12 to 14 years old)," said Galvez at a vaccination event in Angeles, Pampanga.
The target date for the pilot implementation of the pediatric inoculation is on October 15 and the priority will be individuals who have co-morbidities.
Fourteen days after the initial phase, the vaccination of children and adolescents will be rolled out in six local government units (LGUs) in Metro Manila namely Pasig City, Taguig City, Makati City, Quezon City, Mandaluyong City, and City of Manila.
It will be further extended to other Metro Manila areas and other regions after 30 days, Galvez added.
"Ang initial sa pilot, more or less ilang libo lang muna for meantime ang oobserbahan. Kapag nakita na walang side effect or major adverse effect ay itutuloy 'yon. Ang gagawing bakunahan sa mga bata ay phased, closely monitored, at sequential (In our pilot, more or less several thousands will be observed for the meantime. If we see that there are no side effect or major adverse effect, then we will continue. The vaccination of the pediatric sector will be done by phase, closely monitored, and sequential)," Galvez stressed.
The government plans to inoculate around 12.7 million adolescents and children in the early stage of the pediatric inoculation as part of the ramped-up vaccination efforts to contain the virus.
There are around 29 million adolescents and children in the country and the NTF allocated 60 million doses to ahve them vaccinated.