THE Covid-19 vaccination of minors aged 5 to 11 has been postponed by the government to February 7 due to logistical challenges.
The Department of Health (DOH) said the reformulated Pfizer vaccines will arrive on the evening of February 4, the initial rollout schedule.
The agency previously said around 780.000 doses will arrive today.
“To ensure adequate preparation and distribution of the Pfizer vaccines allocated for children aged 5-11 years old, the COVID-19 vaccination of minors 5-11 years old will begin on 7 February,” the DOH said.
Malacañang has said initially that the vaccination would be rolled out in six vaccination sites in the National Capital Region on Friday.
These are the Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, National Children’s Hospital, Manila Zoo, SM North Edsa (Skydome), and the Fil Oil Gym in San Juan City.
Meanwhile, the DOH and NTF underscored that rollout for 5 to 11 years old is the result of careful study by health experts and has been approved in many countries, including the United States.
“[A]s we always emphasize, all Food and Drug Administration-approved Covid-19 vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective. Over 8.1 million children have already been vaccinated worldwide, with no reports of deaths and serious adverse events among those vaccinated,” they said.
The agencies noted that no adverse events were recorded among the over nine million minors aged 12 to 17 years old who have been vaccinated with at least one dose, since their vaccination rollout began in October 2021.
“In the Philippines, we have already recorded over 100,000 pre-registrations for the vaccination rollout for children aged five to 11. This number signifies the willingness and confidence of parents to have their children vaccinated against the deadly virus,” they said.
They also pointed out that “parental consent forms are required for all minors” who will be vaccinated, and that extra measures have been taken to ensure their safety.
They said the vaccines that will be used for the 5 to 11 years old are reformulated, meaning the dosage is lower compared to those given to the older age groups.
“Vaccinating them is crucial to achieve our goal of protecting all members of the Filipino family – children, adults, and senior citizens. This will enable us to continue the safe reopening of schools and other public spaces, as well as ensure the full economic recovery of our nation,” they said.
