Around 7,000 children age five to 11 years old received their first dose of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine during the launching of the pediatric vaccination for the said age group on Monday, Feb. 7.
Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr., vaccine czar and chief implementer of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19, said a total of 7,416 children have been inoculated at different vaccination sites in Metro Manila as of 4 p.m. Monday.
“Inaasahan na lang po natin na kaunting libo lang po pero nakita natin 7,000 na po 416 (7,416). So if it will raised to 10,000, magiging successful po tayo (We expected that it would only reach a few thousand but we had 7,416. So if it will raised to 10,000, we will be successful),” Galvez said during the Talk to the People public address of President Duterte on Monday night.
The soft launching of the pediatric vaccination for five to 11 year old children will continue until Feb. 9 in 33 designated vaccination sites across Metro Manila, Central Luzon, Calabarzon and in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM).
On Feb. 14, the pediatric vaccination will be expanded nationwide.
“Ang gagawin po natin is ‘yong phased and sequential in order to ensure ‘yong safety and successful implementation katulad po ng ginawa po natin sa successful implementation po natin sa 12 to 17 years old (We will make a phased and sequential in order to ensure the safety and successful implementation just like the successful implementation of the 12 to 17 years old ),” Galvez said.
The vaccine czar assured that there are enough supply of reformulated Pfizer vaccines for the pediatric sector.
Aside from the 780,000 doses of Pfizer jabs that arrived last Friday, Galvez said 5.2 million more doses will be transported this February.
On February 10, another 780,000 doses will be delivered which will be followed by the delivery of another 780,000 doses on February 16.
On February 23, around 1.6 million doses will arrive and another 2.1 million doses will be flown on February 28.
Meanwhile, the third iteration of the “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” National Vaccination Days will be held on February 10 to 11.
“This is intended to capture all ages from 12 and above with priorities in ecozones and primary doses for A2 (senior citizens) and A5 (indigent population),” Galvez noted.
He said the third Bayanihan, Bakunahan vaccination program intends to administer two million primary doses and four million booster shots.