Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. on Wednesday said the government would start the nationwide vaccination of minors aged 12 to 17 “as early as” Nov. 3.
In an interview over CNN Philippines’ The Source, Galvez said 50 more hospitals would take on young vaccinees nationwide.
“Magsisisimula po tayo…NVOC (National Vaccine Operations Center) just informed me that we could start as early as Nov. 3 nationwide kasi magkakaroon na tayo ng additional 50 hospitals from all throughout the Philippines,” Galvez said.
So far, the vaccination of minors in the Philippines is limited to Metro Manila, to those aged 12 to 17 with co-morbidities.
Galvez said more hospitals in all regions nationwide would be opened to minors in the coming days to help boost the country’s vaccination numbers.
“This coming Friday, [October] 29, we will open up an additional 40 to 50 hospitals nationwide. All regions will be represented. It will be like a pilot in other regions and after that we will have the opening. Wala na tayong tinatawag nating sequential—we will open already from 12 to 17 all throughout the Philippines,” he said.
The Philippines started vaccinating minors on Oct. 15. John Ezekiel J. Hirro