Vaccination for 5-11 age group yet to start: DOH

MANILA – The government clarified on Monday that the Covid-19 inoculation of children aged five to 11 years old has yet to start.

In an advisory, the Department of Health (DOH) said preparations are underway for the vaccine rollout of the youngest age group.

The National Vaccination Operations Center will announce the exact vaccination schedule “as soon as Covid-19 vaccines suitable for the ages 5 to 11 and its appropriate syringes become available”, the DOH said.

“While waiting for the Covid-19 vaccines to be rolled out or this pediatric group, we recommend that children complete their routine immunization to be protected from more contagious and fatal diseases, like measles, rubella, tetanus, and diphtheria,” the advisory read.

The government is eyeing the vaccination of at least 13.5 million children aged 5 to 11 against Covid-19.

The country’s Food and Drug Authorization has already issued emergency use approval for the lower dosage of the Pfizer-BioNTech Covid-19 vaccine for the age bracket.

The National Task Force Against Covid-19 said the procurement of actual Pfizer doses with the lower dosage and concentration is ongoing.

The deliveries of the specified Pfizer vaccines might start in January next year.