NOW that the country has a steady supply of vaccines, the government can start inoculating minors to protect them from Covid19, Malacañang said on Tuesday.

“Dahil steady nga po ang supply ng ating mga bakuna, magsisimula na sa Biyernes, October 15, ang initial rollout para sa mga may comorbidities na may edad dose hanggang disisyete sa NCR,” Palace Spokesman Harry Roque said during a media briefing.

“On track pa rin po tayo sa target na 100 million doses para sa buwan ng Oktubre, kaya paghusayan natin ang pagbabakuna,” he added.

Meanwhile, Presidential Adviser Joey Concepcion said children of employees in the private sector will also be inoculated to safely reopen the economy.

“We have to vaccinate everyone in the family bubble as we are looking into vaccinating everybody in the negosyo bubble,” Concepcion said.

The inoculation of minors with health risks will be piloted in eight hospitals in Metro Manila – National Children’s Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Pasig City Children’s Hospital, Fe Del Mundo Medical Center, Philippine General Hospital, Makati Medical Center, St. Luke’s Medical Center, and Philippine Children’s Medical Center.

Minors with comorbidities will be categorized as part of the A3 priority group, while dependents of healthcare workers will be under the A1 priority group.

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