The Philippines said on Tuesday it will expand its COVID-19 vaccination program to include the general public and children aged 12-17 years old for the first time from October to achieve herd immunity and gradually return to normal life.
The presidential spokesperson of the Philippines, Harry Roque said in a press briefing, that the President had also approved the vaccination of minors which can also be expected to start in October.
The Southeast Asian nation of 110 million people has reported one of the highest numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Asia since the pandemic began last year, prompting authorities to impose strict anti-virus measures in the worst-affected areas and relax curbs in other parts to spur economic activity.
The Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration has approved for emergency use the use of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 12 to 17.
The government has so far only prioritized the COVID-19 vaccination of health workers, senior citizens, persons with comorbidities, economic frontlines, and indigent citizens. Roque assured that persons that fall under these categories will remain prioritized despite the COVID-19 vaccination being opened to the general public.
The Southeast Asian nation of 110 million people has reported one of the highest numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Asia since the pandemic began last year. Meanwhile, vaccination measures in the Philippines are still reported slow, with only 20.3 million or 26 percent fully vaccinated and 23.6 million receiving their first dose since March when the government launched its vaccination drive.
The presidential spokesperson of the Philippines, Harry Roque said in a press briefing, that the President had also approved the vaccination of minors which can also be expected to start in October.
The Southeast Asian nation of 110 million people has reported one of the highest numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Asia since the pandemic began last year, prompting authorities to impose strict anti-virus measures in the worst-affected areas and relax curbs in other parts to spur economic activity.
The Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration has approved for emergency use the use of the Pfizer and Moderna COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 12 to 17.
The government has so far only prioritized the COVID-19 vaccination of health workers, senior citizens, persons with comorbidities, economic frontlines, and indigent citizens. Roque assured that persons that fall under these categories will remain prioritized despite the COVID-19 vaccination being opened to the general public.
The Southeast Asian nation of 110 million people has reported one of the highest numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths in Asia since the pandemic began last year. Meanwhile, vaccination measures in the Philippines are still reported slow, with only 20.3 million or 26 percent fully vaccinated and 23.6 million receiving their first dose since March when the government launched its vaccination drive.
