The rollout of Covid-19 vaccines for kids aged five to 11 will begin on Feb. 4 in select Metro Manila areas, Malacañang announced on Monday.
In a virtual presser, acting Palace spokesman Karlo Nograles said the vaccine rollout would be held at the Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, National Children’s Hospital, Manila Zoo, SM North EDSA (Skydome and Fil Oil Gym in San Juan.
“Mahalaga po ito sa ating paghahanda sa muling pagbabalik ng face-to-face classes o pisikal na balik-eskwela,” Nograles said.
Metro Manila will be under Alert Level 2 starting Feb. 1. Under the alert level, in-person classes in basic education are allowed.
Only the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine has been approved by the local Food and Drug Administration for the vaccination of the age group.
Nograles said more Pfizer doses were expected to arrive this week.
“Dahil ito ay reformulated, ito ay sadyang binili upang eksklusibong gamitin para sa pagbabakuna ng mga bata na nasa edad lima hanggang labing-isang taong gulang lamang,” he said.
Nograles also assured parents that the reformulated vaccine was safe for kids.
“The doses for minors have been reformulated so that these are appropriate for them. Ibig sabihin, mas mababa ang dosage na ituturok sa kanila. Kaya kung available na ang mga ito sa inyong mga lugar, dalhin nyo na po ang inyong mga anak sa vaccination sites at sila’y pabakunahan,” Nograles said.
The country began inoculating minors aged 12 to 17 in October 2021. About 7.5 million Filipinos in the age group have completed their Covid-19 vaccination. John Ezekiel J. Hirro