Over 650K kids jabbed

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THREE weeks since the rollout started, more than 650,000 children aged 5 to 11 years old have been given their coronavirus disease (COVID-19) shots, according to the Department of Health (DOH).

In a televised public briefing, Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said that since February 7, the government has inoculated 663,384 kids aged 5 to 11.

The target of the government’s pediatric population is pegged at 15,564,305.

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And with the high demand for pediatric vaccination, Cabotaje said some areas have started giving vaccines for second doses as first shots.

“There are those that were forced to use the second dose as first doses because of the high demands,” said the head of the National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC).

She, however, assured that the second doses meant for those who got the first doses won’t be compromised.

“Once the fresh supplies arrive next month, we will immediately replace them,” said Cabotaje.

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has earlier lamented how the government couldn’t hit the pace at which they would like to vaccinate children as aggressively as they want due to the lack in supplies of COVID-19 doses for pediatric population.

The country is set to receive 769,860 doses of Pfizer vaccines donated by the United States government through the COVAX Facility on Monday night.

This will bring to more than 225 million doses the number of vaccines already delivered in the country.

As of February 21, 134.332 million doses have been administered nationwide with 62.65 million fully vaccinated. More than 9.871 million have received their booster.

The government targets to fully vaccinate more than 77 million by the end of March and more than 90 million by the end of June. It also targets to administer booster to more than 72 million by the end of June. — With Jocelyn Montemayor

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