Nearly 10,000 children with comorbidities have so far been vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19), the Department of Health (DOH) said Monday, Oct. 25.
"Currently the number of children with comorbidities that have been vaccinated as of yesterday was 9,928," Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said in a media forum.
So far, she said, there has been no serious adverse reactions noted.
Vergeire said they have noted 10 minor reactions such as allergic reactions, anxiety related reactions and pain in the vaccinated area.
"We will monitor them for this whole month to see if there would still be other reactions that will occur," she said.
The national government, together with the eight participating hospitals in the National Capital Region (NCR) commenced the pilot run of pediatric vaccination of 12 to 17 year old children with comorbidities on Oct. 15.
The second phase of the pediatric vaccination started last week.
The DOH explained that the vaccinations are currently being held in select hospitals as the expansion will be conducted in phases.
The government is implementing Pediatric A3 vaccination in a phased approach in order to formulate strategies on how it will be rolled out to other regions, and possibly to regular vaccination sites.
Meanwhile, Vergeire said Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has approved the recommendation of the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) to give COVID-19 booster shots to healthcare workers (HCWs) and a third dose to the immunocompromised and elderly.
"The Secretary has approved the recommendations of HTAC and all plans are now underway," she said.
"We wil have this third doses for our immunocompromised, senior citizens and our boosters for healthcare workers," added Vergeire.
Despite this, the administration of booster shots and 3rd doses of the COVID-19 vaccines will not yet commence in the country.
The Health official explained that they still have to wait for the final recommendation of the World Health Organization - Strategic Advisory Group of Experts on Immunization (SAGE) and also wait for the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to issue separate emergency use authorizations (EUAs) for the vaccines set to be used.