Nation

HEALTH EXPERTS YET TO RECOMMEND VACCINATING MINORS — DOH

/ 21 September 2021

HEALTH experts have yet to recommend the vaccination of minors against Covid19, an official of the Department of Education said on Monday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire made the clarification after another health official said that the vaccination of those aged 12 to 17 had been approved.

Vergeire said the agency’s all experts’ group is still studying the possibility of vaccinating minors.

“Sa ngayon ay hindi pa natin nabibigyan ng rekomendasyon itong pagbabakuna sa mga kabataan natin, patuloy pa rin hong pinag-aaralan ng ating mga eksperto itong pagbabakuna sa mga bata,” she said.

Although minors can be infected with Covid19, Vergerie emphasized that the risk of severe infection and death is more common with adults.

“Ngayon na unstable pa rin ang supply natin (ng bakuna), gusto natin na pagtuunan muna ng pansin ‘yung mga mas nakatatanda na may vulnerability to severity and dying,” she said.

Several LGUs have launched online registration for adolescents in anticipation of the expansion of the government vaccination program to include children.