A pediatric infectious disease expert recommended to the government that it should first inoculate at least 50 percent of its target population before considering vaccinating children aged 5 to 11 against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

The government should still prioritize senior citizens (A2) and people with comorbidities (A3) in COVID-19 vaccination since they are at “higher risk of getting severe COVID-19,” said Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP) President Dr. Mary Ann Bunyi.

“Halimbawa pong ma-reach na natin iyong hinahangad nating 50 to 70 percent na target na mabakunahan itong priority groups natin na A2 and A3, then palagay ko po puwede naman po nang maibigay at masimulan sa mga batang may edad na 5 to 11 (For example, if we already reach the 50 to 70 percent of vaccinating our A2 and A3 priority groups, then I think we can start vaccinating the five to 11 age group),” she said on Friday, Oct. 29.

It was reported that a panel from the US Food and Drug Administration already recommended authorizing the use of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for children aged 5 to 11.

“Doon po sa pag-aaral na ginawa ng Pfizer doon sa America, nakita nila na more than 90 percent ang bisa noong bakuna laban sa COVID-19. Sa usapin naman po kung ligtas ang bakuna, ang sinasabi po doon sa kanilang pag-aaral na ito ay ligtas (In a study conducted by Pfizer in America, they found that the vaccine was more than 90 percent effective against COVID-19. As for whether the vaccine is safe, what they say in their study is that it is safe),” said Bunyi.

The Philippine government has already started its COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 12 to 17 with comorbidities. The program will be expanded to all adolescents in the said age group by Nov. 3. Vaccines made by Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna are being used for the pediatric vaccination.

A total of 23,727 children with comorbidities aged 12-17 already got their first dose since the program started last Oct. 15.