Prioritize adults first, say PH pediatricians

COVID-19 VACCINATION

The government should inoculate a “sufficient percentage” of the adult population first before deciding to include minors in the vaccination rollout, the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) and the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP) said Sunday, Sept. 12.

“The adult and more vulnerable age groups should still be prioritized in the vaccination rollout, with the aim of equitable distribution among different regions of the country,” the PPS and PIDSP said in a joint statement on Sunday.

The groups also noted that including minors in the vaccination rollout "should be done in a broader context, and should take into consideration the vaccine supply and groups with comorbidities."

"Once the whole country has a sufficient percentage vaccinated in the priority adult groups, children 12 years-old and above may be considered for vaccination," it added.

The vaccine rollout can be initiated in high-transmission areas with adolescents under the A3 or those with comorbidities and A1 category or children of frontliners, the groups suggested.

Local government units such as Pateros, Makati, Muntinlupa, Manila, Caloocan, and Las Pinas City have already started the registration of minors, with ages 12 to 17 years, for vaccination against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

Over 16 million individuals in the Philippines have already been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.