The Department of Health (DOH) said it has already sent a request to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to amend the emergency use authorization (EUA) of Covid-19 vaccines to allow the administration of booster shots for children aged 12 to 17.

“Ito pong ating (For the) booster shots—yung fourth dose at saka yung booster shots for kids o yung 12 to 17 (the fourth dose and the booster shots for 12 to 17), tayo po ay nagsumite na ng request (we have already submitted a request) for the EUAs to be amended for these fourth dose at saka ito pong ating (and for the) booster shots for 12 to 17 years old,” said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire during a media forum on Friday, April 8.

To recall, the DOH reported on March 22 that it was awaiting the decision of the FDA with regards to the fourth vaccine dose for senior citizens and immunocompromised individuals.

If these measures are approved by the FDA, the Health Technology Assessment Council will then conduct a review regarding these measures, said Vergeire.

“Atin lang pong inaantay ang Food and Drug Administration na maglabas ng amended EUA. Pag lumabas po ito, isusumite naman natin ito sa Health Technology Assessment Council para sa kanilang pagsusuri ukol dito sa mga sektor na ito (We are just waiting for the Food and Drug Administration to issue an amended EUA. When that comes out, we will submit it to the Health Technology Assessment Council for their analysis),” she said.

“Once all processes are done, we can be able to issue out the guidelines and implement itong fourth doses pati kung saka-sakali kung makita ng FDA kung pwede na rin ang (the administering of fourth doses as well—just in case the FDA sees the need of) booster shots for 12 to 17 years old,” she added.

Currently, only adult Filipinos are eligible to get a booster shot or third dose of Covid-19 vaccine.