By Keith Brendan Zamora

PHOTO: ABS-CBN News

If the government allows immunization against COVID-19 in minors aged 17 and under, the Philippines will have to vaccinate an additional 12 to 14 million individuals, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said on Monday.

FDA Director General Eric Domingo made the announcement five months after the government began its COVID-19 immunization program.



At that time, the FDA only allowed Pfizer-BioNTech for use on children aged 12 to 17 years old and younger.

"If we are going to include those 12 to 17 years old [in our vaccination program], that would mean an additional 12 to 14 million [people to be vaccinated]," Domingo said during the Laging Handa briefing.

"Rest assured that like the vaccine approved for adults, we will not be giving these to children unless it is safe and effective," he added.



Sinovac, a Chinese vaccine company, has already applied for an emergency use authorization (EUA) to use its COVID-19 vaccine on children aged 3 to 17.

However, the EUA is still being assessed by the country's Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP).


Report source: GMA News