THE ADMINISTRATION of booster shots for aged 12 to 17 will be rolled out once guidelines have been released, an official of the Department of Health said on Saturday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said the Health Technology Assessment Council already submitted its recommendation to Secretary Francisco Duque III for approval.

“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,” Vergerie said during the Laging Handa news briefing.

“Kung sakaling mapirmahan na, posible po na maaari na tayong mag-umpisa next week once guidelines are out,” she added.

The country’s vaccine expert earlier recommended the administration of a booster shot for minors aged 12 to 17.

Last June 14, the Food and Drug Administration amended the emergency use authorization for Pfizer as booster shot for minors.

Data from the DOH showed about 9.1 million minors have been fully vaccinated against Covid19, while some 1.5 million children aged 5 to 11 have also been immunized.