The Department of Health (DOH) said more than 168,000 children aged five to 11 have already registered in their respective local government units in time for the start of the COVID-19 vaccination for the said age group on Feb. 4

“Ang datos na ibinigay sa atin ng ating mga local government units ay umaabot na sa 168,355 (Based on the data provided to us by our local government units, the number has already reached 168,355),” said DOH Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje in a public briefing on Saturday, Jan. 29.

“Pero hindi ibig sabihin na naka-concentrate lang o sila lang ang bibigyan, ie-expand natin ito habang dumadami ang bakuna na dumarating sa ating bansa (But it doesn't mean that the vaccines will only be concentrated to them. We will expand it as the number of vaccines arriving in the country increases),” she added.

Citing data from Philippine Statistics Authority (PSA), there are 15.5 million children aged five to 11 in the country, said Cabotaje.

The vaccination of children with comorbidities and those without underlying conditions will be simultaneously done, said Cabotaje.

“Hindi kagaya noong 12 to 17 na naunang may comorbidity, gusto natin mas mabilis ang bakunahan kaya pagsasabayin natin iyong pagbakuna ng may comorbidity at walang comorbidity (Unlike in the vaccination for 12 to 17---where those with comorbidities were prioritized, we want the vaccination to be faster so we will simultaneously vaccinate those with comorbidity and without comorbidity),” she said.

“Iyong mga may comorbidity kailangan po ng medical certificate para maantabayanan at maalalayan ng ating mga bakuna center kung ano iyong nararamdaman ng mga bata na pupunta sa bakuna center (Those with comorbidity need a medical certificate so that our vaccination centers can monitor the health status of these children),” she added.

Cabotaje assured that the country will have enough supply of COVID-19 vaccines for this age group.

“Ang ating napagkasunduan ng ating Vaccine Czar ay 15 million and dadating sa first and second quarter (Our vaccine czar secured an agreement of 15 million and these will arrive on first to second quarter ),” she said.

“Sa Feb. 3 darating about 780,000 doses tapos after one week, Feb. 9, the same quantity (On Feb. 3, about 780,000 vaccine doses will arrive and after one week, Feb. 9, the same quantity will also be delivered) and then we are expecting weekly deliveries after that,” she added.