The Philippines is looking at vaccinating about 13.5 million children aged five to 11 once the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination program covers that specific age group.

“We have about 13.5 million targeted five to 11 years old individuals,” said Department of Health (DOH) Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Thursday, Nov. 25.

Vergeire said that there is still no definite date as to when the COVID-19 vaccination program will begin for this age group.

“Wala pa tayong target date for the five to 11 years old vaccination. Hihintayin natin uli ang emergency use authority na ibibigay ng (We do not yet have a target date for the vaccination of five to 11- year-olds. We will again wait for the emergency use authority provided by the) Food and Drug Administration regarding the inclusion of this specific sector of society,” she said.

However, the DOH official assured that the country will have enough vaccine supply once the vaccination program starts for children aged five to 11.

“We have enough supply. Actually, we have about 40 million doses still to come until the end of the year para dito sa ating pagbabakuna ng COVID-19,” she said.

“Lahat ng ating (All) priority groups, the rest of the population, are already included in our estimates for the committed doses for 2021 sa ating bansa,” she added.

On Nov. 23, FDA Director-General Rolando Enrique Domingo said they are expecting that vaccination of children below 11 years old will begin before the end of this year.

“I would think before the end of the year. I’m pretty sure Pfizer is going to be ready and Sinovac told us that their data is being collated and will be submitted soon,” he then said.

“So, I believe before the end of the year we’re going to have vaccines for children below 12,” he added.

READ:FDA expects vaccination of children below 12 before year ends