MANILA, Philippines — The COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 5 to 11 years old has not yet started, the Department of Health clarified on Monday.
In a statement, the DOH said preparations for the rollout of the vaccines for the said age group are still underway.
The DOH issued the clarification following the announcement by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration that it has approved the emergency use authorization for Pfizer-BioNTech’s vaccine for 5 to 11 years old.
“The dose and concentration of Pfizer vaccine for this age group are different from the one given to 12 years old and above,” the agency said.
“The National Vaccination Operations Center will announce the exact date as soon as COVID-19 vaccines suitable for ages 5 to 11 and its appropriate syringes become available,” it added.
While waiting for COVID-19 vaccines to be rolled out for this pediatric group, the DOH reiterated its calls on parents and guardians to complete the routine immunization for children to be protected from the more contagious and fatal diseases like measles, rubella, tetanus, and diphtheria.
The health department earlier said that parents should bring their infants and kids to health centers to get free vaccination shots that will protect them from acquiring 13 life-threatening diseases.
“Vaccinations prevent serious or sometimes fatal diseases such as diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis, hepatitis B, Haemophilus influenza type B, polio, pneumococcal infections, rotavirus infections, influenza, measles, Japanese encephalitis, mumps, rubella, chickenpox, hepatitis A, and human papillomavirus (HPV). These are Vaccine-Preventable Diseases (VPDs)” it said in a separate statement.
The DOH stressed that it is critical to complete all childhood immunizations as these diseases have long-term effects such as compromised immunity making them susceptible to serious illness as they grow up.
“Vaccinations of infants and kids are now done on a house-to-house or door-to-door approach where health workers inoculate kids right at their doorstep. Mobile vaccinations where health workers are transported in far-flung areas either through tricycles or boats are also being done today,” it said.
“There are also community-based immunizations to inoculate all children in a targeted hard-to-reach area,” it added.
The DOH also reiterated that vaccines provided by its National Immunization Program are free to all Filipino children regardless of economic status.
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