Vaccinated minors with comorbidities have reached up to 3,000 in the National Capital Region (NCR), according to the National Task Force against COVID-19 (NTF).
In a statement, NTF reported that 12,958 children aged 12-17 years have received their first dose of vaccine against CoVid-19 since October 15, when the government started the pediatric vaccination in several hospitals in Metro Manila.
Vaccine Czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said there are 26 hospitals and facilities administering the vaccines for minors.
Galvez also shared they are targeting to reach 7 million pediatric vaccination for ages 12-17 by December this year.
During the weekly taped address of President Rodrigo Duterte, Galvez emphasized the need to accelerate the COVID-19 vaccination of minors in order to reopen more schools, boost the economy, and let the children go outside after two years of being locked at home.
"Bigyan natin sila ng leeway to move around, to play, to study, and also magkaroon ng social [interaction] sa kanilang mga kaibigan. Makapag-jollibee po sila o McDonald's, doon sa mga may dine-in," Galvez said.
[Let's give them the leeway to move around, to play, to study, and also to have social interactions with their friends. They could go to Jollibee or McDonald's to dine-in.]
"Makikita natin na ang mga bata sobrang restricted lalo na kapag naka-Alert Level 4. Almost 2 years na restricted sila, makikita natin na more than 300-400 percent ang may depression na and suicidal tendencies," he continued.
[The children are restricted from going outside especially during Alert Level 4. They are restricted for almost two years and we can see that more than 300-400 percent of them developed depression and have suicidal tendencies.]
