THE VACCINATION of minors with comorbidities will start on October 15 in six hospitals in the National Capital Region, vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. said on Monday.

Galvez earlier said that the Covid19 vaccines for adolescents aged 12 to 17 will be administered in five NCR hospitals.

However, he said that the inoculation will be conducted at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center, National Children’s Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Pasig City Children’s Hospital, Fe Del Mundo Medical Center, and Philippine General Hospital.

The official added that the pediatric vaccination will eventually be expanded to select local government units in NCR.

“Itong mga (LGU) na ito ay ‘yung Manila, Pasig, Taguig, Makati, Quezon City, at Mandaluyong. At after 30 days, magkakaroon na po tayo ng rollout sa buong NCR at sa mga areas na meron na po tayong average na more than 50 percent na mga A2,” Galvez said.

Galvez said that the government will allocate 60 million vaccine doses for the  inoculation of about 26 to 29 million minors.

“Ang initial natin sa pilot ay more or less ilang libo lang for the meantime. And then oobserbahan po natin,” Galvez said.

“Gagawin po natin sa mga bata, phased at closely monitored, at saka talagang sequential,” he added, noting that once there are no major adverse effects – the vaccination will be expanded to 12 to 14 years old.

Minors aged 15 to 17 years with health risks and those who are living with healthcare workers will get jab first.

The Food and Drug Administration of the Philippines has allowed the emergency use of Pfizer’s and Moderna’s vaccines for minors aged 12 to 17.