SENATOR Sherwin Gatchalian on Thursday urged local government units to prepare for the inoculation of children.

Gatchalian said that health workers should be mobilized and schools tapped as partners, especially in spreading awareness about the safety of vaccines.

The senator hailed the government’s plan to include teenagers in the Covid19 vaccination program, saying it would pave the way for the safe reopening of schools.

“Ngayong nakikita na natin ang posibilidad na mababakunahan ang ating mga kabataan kontra Covid19, dapat simulan na rin natin ang paghahanda ng ating mga lokal na pamahalaan upang maayos at mabilis na maipamahagi ang mga bakuna sa mga kabataan,” Gatchalian said.

“Kung mababakunahan na rin natin ang mga kabataan, tataas ang kumpiyansa nila at ng kanilang mga magulang na bumalik sa kanilang mga paaralan,” he added.

He said it is essential to study how other countries inoculated children and teenagers.

Covid19 vaccines in the country are not authorized for those under 18 years old.

In the United States, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine for those aged 12-15.

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez earlier said that vaccinating 15 million kids aged 12 to 17 would entail an additional budget of about P20 billion.