WHO backs vaccinating immunocompromised teens vs. COVID-19

The World Health Organization (WHO) has thrown its support in giving a COVID-19 vaccine to individuals aged 12 to 17 years old, provided they are immunocompromised and/or has a health condition which makes them more vulnerable to the virus.

Dr. Rabindra Abeyasinghe, the WHO representative to the Philippines, was responding to calls to include younger people in the vaccination program.

The WHO official said that such move is okay as long as the Philippine Food and Drug Administration approves the vaccine for emergency use on the said age bracket and in consideration of the children's vulnerability risk.

"If it is registered with Philippine FDA, it is cleared [for use] for people of that age who are immuncompromised and have other health condition," he said during the Laging Handa briefing.

"But these vaccines should not be for general population [of that age group]. We should protect the elderly as a priority," he added.

The WHO official said the general population of children that age can eventually be covered once there are enough protection for people who are more vulnerable.

"If the priority sectors are equally protected, then we can go to the younger age groups and eventually, to adolescents," he added.

The Philippines just started vaccinating members of the labor force or A4 on Monday, June 7, a category which covers around 35 million people.

Given the tight vaccine supply and wide coverage, the government said LGUs should prioritize those aged 40 to 59 years old in vaccinating A4 category before shifting to 18 to 39 years old.

The Philippines has around eight million doses of COVID-19 supply so far since the vaccination program started last March 1.

All doses delivered to the country are given in two doses, meaning these are only good for four million Filipinos so far. — RSJ, GMA News