AROUND 65 percent of minors aged 12 to 17 have been fully vaccinated against Covid19, the Department of Health said on Sunday.

“We are happy to report na maganda naman ang coverage natin sa ating rest of pediatric population.  Naka-77 percent na tayo ng first dose so 8.8 million out of 11.4 million, tapos mga 65.6 percent na rin ang ating second doses,” Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said.

Cabotaje added that 23 percent or 299,000 out of the 1.2 million adolescents with comorbidities are fully inoculated.

“Siyempre medyo nag-aatubili pa ‘yung mga may anak na may karamdaman,” she said.

Meanwhile, Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said that the administration of booster shots for minors is not allowed.

“‘Yun pong booster shots para sa ating mga kabataan, wala pa pong kumpletong ebidensiya across the globe na kailangan po nila ngayon ng booster shots,” Vergerie explained.

“Aantayin po natin since science is evolving. Kung saka-sakaling irekomenda ng international experts and then ipapa-evaluate po natin sa Food and Drug Administration. Pero sa ngayon po 2 doses pa lang po ang kailangan nila,” she added.

Vaccines made by Pfizer and Moderna were approved by the Philippine Food and Drugs Administration for adolescents.

The government will begin vaccinating children aged 5 to 11 on Monday, February 7.