Despite the delay in the arrival of “pediatric” Pfizer coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccines, National Task Force (NTF) against COVID-19 special adviser Dr. Teodoro “Ted” Herbosa, on Thursday, Feb. 3, assured the public that the vaccination for children aged five to 11 years old will push through as scheduled.
“Bukas ay itutuloy pa rin natin ang ceremonial launching ng vaccination ng five to 11 years old. Lahat ng mga five to 11-year-olds na nag pre-register at na-invite will be scheduled for vaccination starting tomorrow. Next week ay tuluy-tuloy na ito, papalawakin na natin ang pagbabakuna (Tomorrow, Feb. 4, we will continue the ceremonial launching of the vaccination of five to 11 years old. All five to 11-year-olds who pre-registered and were invited will be scheduled for vaccination starting tomorrow. We will continue this until next week and we will eventually expand the vaccination),” said Herbosa during the “Laging Handa” public briefing.
Resbakuna for Kids, or vaccination of children aged five to 11 years old, will begin starting Friday, Feb. 4. The six initial vaccination sites for this program include the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, National Children’s Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Manila Zoo, SM North EDSA (Skydome), and FilOil Gym in San Juan.
Herbosa likewise reiterated that the vaccination for children assures the safety of kids amid the viral spread of the disease. Meanwhile, he added that there is an adequate amount of vaccines to inoculate children against COVID-19.
“There will be more that will arrive. Expected natin na continuous na ang delivery of all these pediatric doses para sa ating pediatric vaccination. Itutuloy natin ‘yan para magkaroon tayo ng initial efforts para ma-roll out ang ating mga bakuna sa bata (There will be more that will arrive. We expect the delivery of all these pediatric doses for our pediatric vaccination to be continuous. We will continue this so that we can make initial efforts to roll out our vaccines for kids),” he added.