THE COUNTRY’S vaccine expert panel is waiting for vaccine manufacturers to seek approval for their Covid19 vaccine to be used as booster shots for children.

The VEP made the remark after the United States Food and Drug Administration authorized the use of Pfizer as booster dose for children aged 5 to 11.

“Actually, hihintayin na mag-apply sila sa FDA, kung ‘di sila mag-a-apply wala tayong aaksiyunan,” VEP chairperson Dr. Nina Gloriani said in a news briefing.

The VEP earlier recommended the administration of a booster shot for minors aged 12 to 17.

It said that the recommendation has been submitted to the FDA, but it will be the Health Technology Assessment Council that will make the final decision.

Data from the Department of Health showed that about 9.1 million minors have been fully vaccinated against Covid 19 while some 1.5 million children aged 5 to 11 old have also been immunized.

The government aims to vaccinate more than 39 million youngsters aged 17 and below.