The vaccination of minors against coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is not yet allowed, but local government units may now start their registration of possible candidates for the inoculation, a government health adviser said.

Dr. Ted Herbosa, special adviser to the National Task Force Against COVID-19, said the National Immunization Technical Advisory Group (NITAG) is still studying the data whether to allow the inoculation of children aged 12 to 17.

“As of now, yung pagbabakuna sa 12 to 17 years old ay hindi pa pinapayagan ng ating (vaccination for 12 to 17 years olds is not yet allowed by our) National Immunization Technical Advisory Group,” Herbosa said in a public briefing.

“Naghihingi sila ng karagdagang panahon para ma-aral yung datos at science (They are asking for more time to study the data and the science),” he added.

But Herbosa noted that the NITAG has allowed local government units (LGUs) to start their registrations of minors for the inoculation.

“Inallow na nila ang LGU na magrehistro para malaman natin kung ilan ba talaga ang mga kabataan na magiging candidate sa bakuna (They have already allowed the LGU to register so that we can find out how many children will get the vaccine),” he said.

Meanwhile, the health adviser said discussions are ongoing whether to use a portion of the country’s vaccine supply for the booster shots to healthcare workers and immunocompromised individuals or for the inoculation of minors.

“Pinag-iisipan kung yung ating limitadong supply ay gagamitin ba natin ito sa booster ng mga health workers at ng mga senior citizens o ibibgay natin sa mga teenagers (We are studying if we would use our limited supply for the booster of health workers and senior citizens or give it to teenagers),” Herbosa said.