PH to vaccinate 0-4 years old before end June – Galvez

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said the government targets inoculating children aged 0 to 4 years old before the end of June.

During President Rodrigo Duterte’s Talk to the People, Galvez reported that the government aims to vaccinate 90 million Filipinos, including 11.11 million children in the said age group, before the end of June.

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“Ito po ang ating mga objectives: Unang-una (These are our objectives: First), to vaccinate 90 million Filipinos before the end of June 2022. Number two, provide 72.16 million boosters for adult population ages from 18 years old and above. Number three, vaccinate 12.74 million or 12-17 years old with boosters,” he said.

“Number four, bakunahan din po natin ang (we will also vaccinate) 15.56 million na 5-11 years old with boosters. And also, we will vaccinate 11.11 million na 0-4 years old with primary series,” he added.

The vaccine czar said the government is securing a supply of COVID-19 vaccines for 0-4 years old. However, the vaccine brands with formulation for children are limited, creating a shortage in the first quarter.

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“Iyong children formulation na 5-11 years might be available by the end of January,” he said.

PH to vaccinate 0-4 years old before end June – Galvez

“Ito po ‘yung last ano po namin contact po namin sa ating mga manufacturer (This is our last contact to our manufacturers) and we are now making some contingencies to acquire doses that we need to include the ages 0-4 years old,” he added.

Galvez earlier warned that the increase of COVID-19 cases would affect their vaccination efforts.

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“Biglang pagtaas ng kaso at infection, ay malaking balakid sa ating vaccination dahil focus ng health care workers at LGU at healthcare personnel ay pondohan ang ospital at karamihan din po sa kanila ay nasa quarantine,” he said.

(The rapid rise in infections has become a big hindrance to the vaccination program because the focus of the health care workers and local governments is the hospitals, and many are also in quarantine.)

According to Galvez, the national government still needs to buy 26 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 5 to 11 years old.

The Philippines has vaccinated 52 million of the targeted 90 million Filipinos.

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