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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOH not keen yet to include children ages 12 to 15 in COVID-19 vaccine priority list

DOH not keen yet to include children ages 12 to 15 in COVID-19 vaccine priority list

Published May 27, 2021 02:09 pm

Department of Health Secretary Francisco Duque III (PCOO/MANILA BULLETIN FILE PHOTO)

Individuals ages 12 to 15 still need to wait a bit longer to book a slot for coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination because of the country's limited supply of vaccines, the Department of Health (DOH) said on Thursday, May 27.

DOH Secretary Francisco Duque III said that it is imperative for now to follow the country's vaccination priority list since they are the most vulnerable to the virus.

"Well kinokonsidera natin lahat iyan no, pinag-aaralan din sa kasalukuyan ng ating mga Vaccine Experts Panel (Well we're considering that and it is currently being studied by our Vaccine Experts Panel)," he said during a public press briefing

"Pero dapat linawin natin na dahil kulang pa ang bakuna at hindi naman sila kabilang sa tinatawag natin na high-risk group, hindi muna natin sila pwedeng isama sa ngayon (But we must clarify that because the vaccine supply is still limited and they are not part of what we call the high-risk group, we cannot include them yet)," he added.

The Health chief said it would be best right now to inoculate those individuals under the first three priority groups: healthcare workers, senior citizens, and people with comorbidities.

“Dapat talagang itulak natin ang mabilisang bakunahan para sa mga senior citizens: A2 and A3, at A1(We should really push for the rapid vaccinations of senior citizens or those under A2 as well as those who belong in A3 and A1),” he said.

“So kinakailangan talaga ay sundin yung prioritization formula, huwag tayong lilihis dyan dahil kakalat po ito sa mas maraming indibidwal ay hindi mo maabot yung proteksyon na kinakailngan ng pinaka vulnerableng mga grupo (So it is really important to follow the prioritization formula, let's not veer away from that because (the virus) may spread to more people and you will not be able to reach the protection that the most vulnerable groups need),” he added.

Since 85 percent of the country’s healthcare workers already got vaccinated, it is important to also speed up the vaccination on senior citizens, said Duque.

“Ang talagang kailangan natin ngayon ay A2, iyan ang kinakailangan isulong natin dahil dyan po galing ang mga nao-ospital na talagang sila po ang nabibiktima ng nakakamamatay na komplikasyon ng COVID-19 infection (What we really need now is to vaccinate those under the A2 category because most of them are being hospitalized and they are mostly the victims of the deadly complications of COVID-19 infection),” he said.

“Iyan po ang iwasan natin, kaya bakunahan natin ang mga senior citizens sa lalong madaling panahon (We should avoid that. We need to vaccinate the senior citizens as soon as possible),” he added.

During the Cabinet meeting on Wednesday night, May 26, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Director-General Rolando Enrique Domingo said that American drugmaker Pfizer has applied for an amendment on its vaccine’s emergency use authorization to allow its use on children between 12 to 15 years of age.

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