AT LEAST 40,419 minors aged 12 to 17 have been vaccinated against Covid19 as of November 3, the Department of Health said on Thursday.

Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said that there were about 1.2 million adolescents with comorbidities nationwide.

The target population for minors without health risk is around 11.4 million.

The government aims to vaccinate at least 80 percent of the 12.7 million children before the end of the year.

Vaccine czar Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. stressed that pediatric inoculation is crucial in ensuring the nation’s future.

“’Yung vaccination na ito ay para talaga sa kanila (kabataan) kasi we’re not only protecting our lives, our economy, but also we’re protecting our future and that’s one of the most important things,” Galvez said.

“Ang pandemyang ito is not a fight for our lives, not only for our health, for the economy, this is also a fight for our future,” he added.Ok