8.2M under 12-17 age group already fully vaxxed

MANILA – The National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 said at least 65 percent or 8,295,474 of the 12- to 17-year-old population have completed two doses of the coronavirus vaccine.

In contrast, about 3 million under the age group have yet to be inoculated, according to NTF chief Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said.

“Kailangan na rin po nating hanapin at hikayatin pa ang 3 milyon na hindi pa po nababakunahan (We still need to look for and encourage the other three million who are unvaccinated),” Galvez said in his report to President Rodrigo Duterte on Monday night.

In terms of the provision of booster shots for the 12-17 age group, Galvez said the government is waiting for reports on administering additional doses to children.

“Naghihintay muna po tayo sa advice ng ating mga eksperto at tingnan po muna natin kung marami na pong bansa ang nagboo-booster (We are still waiting from the advice of experts and we should check it first if many countries are allowing boosters for) for 12 to 17 years old,” Galvez said.

Currently, the government uses the original formulation of Pfizer Covid-19 for the said age bracket.

As of February 16, an official total of 224,823,360 Covid-19 vaccine doses have been delivered to the country, both procured and donated.

The total excludes the 293,670 Pfizer doses, donated by the Australian government through the United Nations Children’s Fund, that arrived Monday night.