The Department of Health Center for Health Development Western Visayas reiterated anew that the vaccination against COVID-19 of individuals 17 years old and below is not yet allowed.
During the Regional Joint Vaccine and Response Cluster Meeting, August 18, DOH 6 National Immunization Program Coordinator Dr. Daphynie Teorima reminded again all local vaccination operations centers (LVOCs) in Western Visayas to abide by Advisory 65-A issued by the National COVID-19 Vaccination Operations Center.
She said that Advisory No. 74 issued by the National COVID-19 VOC aims to provide guidance to all Regional/ LVOCs), Implementing Units and Vaccination Sites on the vaccination of the pediatric population.
“The Department of Health All Experts Group reiterates their initial recommendation that the vaccination of children and adolescents, even those with co-morbidities, shall only begin once the supply of vaccines is adequate and stable,” the Advisory said.
It added that “This position is supported by the Joint Position Statement of the Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) and the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP) issued on August 9, 2021.
“The PPS and the PIDSP recommend that the older and more vulnerable adult age groups shall still be given precedence in the vaccination roll-out. Once a sufficient percentage has been vaccinated in the priority adult groups, children 12 years old and above may be considered for vaccination, with priority given to those who live in areas with high transmission and those with co-morbidities,” the Joint Position Statement of the PPS and PIDSP noted.
Meanwhile, DOH CHD WV Director Dr. Andriano Suba-an reminded all the implementing units, particularly the LVOCs, to ensure that the guidelines, particularly on the prioritization for vaccination, are strictly implemented.
