Health experts are not yet recommending the vaccination of 0 to 19 years old against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19), the Department of Health (DOH) said. 

The reason for it was the limited supply of Covid-19 vaccines, explained by Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire.

“Ang rekomendasyon po ng ating mga eksperto ay hindi muna bakunahan ang ating mga kabataan dahil ito po ay makakaapekto sa supply ng iba pang priority groups gaya ng ating senior citizens,” she said during a Palace briefing.

According to Vergeire’s data, there was less than one Covid-19 death per day in the pediatric age group during June to August 12.

She added that fatalities in the pediatric age group only cover 0% to 1% of the total Covid-19 fatalities during the same time. Those 60 years and above recorded the highest number of deaths. 

“Mortality and morbidity data across age groups do not support the urgency to prioritize vaccination of the pediatric population as of this time,” Vergeire said.

Meanwhile, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said that vaccination of the pediatric age group may start in September, but still depending on the supply. Ronald Espartinez