By Civ Alonzo-Cruz
The Department of Health (DOH) clarified in a press briefing on Tuesday afternoon (Dec.14) that the formulation of COVID-19 vaccines for adults and minors is the same and that there is no need to buy separate vaccines for minors as the government is rolling out its national vaccination drive.
DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire explained in the Palace press briefing that the formulation of COVID-19 vaccines administered to minors aged 12 to 17 does not have a different formulation with the vaccines used by the adults.
“Ang sinasabi sa atin ng ating Food and Drug Administration (FDA) at base sa ating mga pag-aaral, ang mga bakuna para sa mga bata ay hindi bagong formulation pero mas kaunti lang ang dose na ibibigay para sa kanila,” USec. Vergeire said.
Vergeire said that they are not ruling out the possibility of the creation of new vaccine formulations as the virus mutates into different variants, including the latest variant of concern, the Omicron variant. She said that in case there is a need to procure new vaccines, the government has an allocated budget for that next year.
“Kung sakaling magkaroon ng bagong formulation sa mga bakuna at kailangan nating bumili, mayroon na tayong approved budget sa 2022 na nakalaan para sa booster doses ng mga adults at minors na 0-11 years old. We have the budget for that,” she said.
The vaccination of minors aged 12 to 17 started to roll out in October and more than 3 million of the pediatric population have been inoculated a month later. The pediatric vaccination is still ongoing.
Meanwhile, the pharmaceutical company Pfizer has submitted an emergency use authorization (EUA) application for the COVID-19 vaccine for ages five to 11 years old in the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) of the country.
The vaccine experts panel in the Philippines is currently studying said application.
The vaccine was first approved for such age groups in the U.S., Canada, Europe, and Australia. -rir
