100% COVID-19 vaccination of 12.7M minors possible in Q1 2022 —Duque

The completion of the vaccination of around 12.7 million adolescents aged 12 to 17 against COVID-19 could be achieved in the first quarter of 2022, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said Saturday.

Interviewed on Dobol B TV, Duque said the target for the 12.7 million minors to receive their two doses of COVID-19 vaccines could be achieved as early as January 2022.

"Kung 100% ng 12.7 million [minors], baka 'yan ay umabot ng Enero, first quarter ng 2022," he said.

(If 100 percent of the 12.7 million minors, this could be accomplished in January or first quarter of 2022.)

According to Duque, the government is targeting to vaccinate 80% of the 12.7 million minors

“12 to 17, before the end of December with 12.7 population,” the NTF said in a message to reporters.

On Monday night, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez Jr. said the country is looking to finish the vaccination of minors by December to protect them from severe infection.

The vaccination of all minors 12 to 17 years old will kick off on November 3 in the National Capital Region while the nationwide implementation will be on November 5, the Department of Health (DOH) clarified Thursday.

The DOH on Thursday said 23,727 minors with comorbidities aged 12 to 17 have been vaccinated against COVID-19. —KG, GMA News