THE GOVERNMENT is considering vaccinating children aged 5 to 11 against Covid19 in January next year, vaccine czar Carlito  Galvez Jr. said on Monday.

He said that children and adolescents should be protected amid the emerging threat of a new Covid19 variant and in preparation for the expansion of limited face-to-face classes.

“Ang plano sa amin, once na lumabas ito (emergency use authorization), immediately we will execute it. Ang planning namin is 1st quarter ng 2022. So, January mag-start tayo and we want to finish that immediately sa 1st quarter,” Galvez said.

“’Yung pediatric vaccination should be finished immediately so that ‘yung ating opening ng classes ay magsimula na at maprotektahan natin ‘yung ating children because of the Omicron,” he added.

Dr. Ted Herbosa, medical adviser of the National Task Force Against Covid19, earlier said that medical experts have endorsed the inoculation of children against the disease.

The Philippine Food and Drug Administration affirmed Herbosa’s statement, stressing that Covid19 vaccines for minors below 12 years old may be available before yearend.

It said Pfizer and Sinovac have expressed their intent to seek approval for their Covid19 vaccines to be used on children aged 5 to 11.