Boosters for adolescents aged 12-17 may start next week

FILE: JABS AT THE ZOO. A teenage boy receives a Covid-19 vaccine dose at the newly-renovated Manila Zoo on Wednesday (Jan. 19, 2022). The Manila Zoo will accommodate a maximum of 1,000 daily by schedule, including the companions, and they are also allowed to roam around free of charge from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. (PNA photo by Avito Dalan)

MANILA – The rollout of booster shots for 12 to 17 years old may start as soon as next week once the guidelines have been released, the Department of Health (DOH) said Saturday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC) has already submitted its recommendation to the office of Secretary Francisco Duque III for approval.

Once he gives his go signal, Vergeire said the DOH would start drafting the guidelines immediately.

“Once the DOH, through the Secretary, approves the recommendation of the HTAC, the DOH would now draft the guidelines on how we are going to implement these booster doses for 12 to 17 years old,” she said in a Laging Handa briefing.

“Kung sakaling mapirmahan na, posible po na maari na tayong mag-umpisa next week once guidelines are out (If it indeed gets the signature, the rollout is possible next week once guidelines are out,” she added.

The Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorization for Pfizer as a booster shot for minors aged 12 to 17 last June 14.

Following this, the HTAC gave its green light to administer an additional Covid-19 vaccine dose to the age group, the recommendation of which was forwarded to Duque last June 16.