A total of 1,233,017 children aged 5 to 11 years old have been inoculated against Covid-19 since the Department of Health started with its pediatric vaccination on February 7.

In an online media forum, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said some 381,433 kids under the 5-11 age bracket are fully vaccinated.

“Sa kabilang banda, 9.7 million na ang bakunadong 12 to 17 years old (Meantime, there are 9.7 million vaccinated 12-to-17-year-olds),” Vergeire said.

She said government employees who will accompany their children to their vaccination schedule “may avail of special leave privileges”.

Vergeire assured the parents of the pediatric population that the government continues to procure appropriate Covid-19 jabs for minors to protect them against Covid-19.

On March 11, the Food and Drug Administration approved the emergency use authorization (EUA) for Sinovac’s CoronaVac which allows the Chinese vaccine to be used for pediatric vaccination.

In a televised public briefing Tuesday, National Vaccination Operations Center Chief Myrna Cabotaje said the country’s vaccine experts are finalizing the guidelines for the administration of Sinovac’s Covid-19 vaccine for children 6 years old and above.

Cabotaje added that the jab will provide additional quantities of protection for the children and parents who may not want to use the Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. (PNA)