Duterte adviser wants COVID-19 booster for kids ahead of school opening

Presidential adviser for entrepreneurship Joey Concepcion on Monday said the government should allow children aged 12 to 17 years old to get a booster shot against COVID-19 ahead of school opening in August.

Concepcion made the appeal after the government postponed the administration of the first COVID-19 booster dose for non-immunocompromised children ages 12 to 17 due to “glitches” with the Health Technology Assessment Council (HTAC).

"We should allow them to get a booster. They will be going to school [in face-to-face setup] soon, so we should protect them with vaccinations," Concepcion said during the Laging Handa briefing.

"We appeal to HTAC to approve it, and also for those aged 50 and above. As it is, many are frustrated because getting vaccinated is the most important step in maintaining immunity," Concepcion added.

Concepcion was referring to the second booster shot for those who are not part of the senior citizens group and are not immunocompromised.

"We all have the brands of vaccines in our bodies, so we are the best testament these [vaccines] have no [significant] side effects," Concepcion said.

On Sunday, National Vaccination Operations Center (NVOC) chairperson and Health Undersecretary Dr. Myrna Cabotaje explained that HTAC made a condition that healthy adolescents aged 12 to 17 could only be given their booster shot if the booster coverage for senior citizens in their respective areas reaches 40%.

Cabotaje said they are still trying to negotiate with the HTAC regarding the said condition, hoping that they would decide within the day if the booster inoculation for the non-immunocompromised children aged 12 to 17 could proceed as long as they meet the five-month interval.  —KBK, GMA News