All those with comorbidities ages 12-17 will be given priority in the vaccination drive that will begin on October 15.
Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said they plan to prioritize those with comorbidities such as heart, kidney, and respiratory problems.
They will start it on October 15 in the National Capital Region (NCR), where there has been a lot of vaccination coverage, especially for senior citizens.
After a two-week test run, vaccinations will be given to young people in various regions.
Cabotaje explained that children and their parents or guardians are required to sign consent forms for vaccination. He also said that minors must present medical certificates proving that they have health comorbidity.
The Food and Drug Administration has previously approved the emergency use of Pfizer and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccine for those ages 12 and older.
According to vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, the government targets injecting up to 55 million doses in October or around 500,000 to 800,000 doses per day.
Ages 12-17 with comorbidities priority in COVID-19 vaccination
A large volume of vaccine donations is expected from the COVAX Facility and those purchased by the government in the coming weeks.
Meanwhile, Dr. Shelley de la Vega, director of the Institute of Aging of UP-Manila, urged senior citizens to get vaccinated against the flu after a study by the University of the Philippines Population Institute (UPPI) showed that those 60 years of age and older commonly acquire flu.
At the webinar of the Philippine Foundation for Vaccination, de la Vega stressed that because of COVID-19, senior citizens now have a higher risk of getting the flu because as they age, their resistance weakens. Hence, it is important to be vaccinated against the flu. It also helps in preventing complications such as pneumonia, heart attack, and stroke.
He said, apart from the misconception that the vaccine’s side effects and the vaccines are not easily accessible, a study also showed that only three out of 10 adults know about vaccination, called ‘ageism.’
“Ageism ‘yung paniniwala na, “ay, matanda na ako. Hindi ko na kailangan ng bakuna. Ibigay na lang sa mas nakababata ang bakuna,’ “ said dela Vega.
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