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After US studies, expert panel eyeing COVID vaccination of ages 5 below soon

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Job Manahan, ABS-CBN News

<div class="embed-wrap"><figure data-feedback="fb:likes,fb:comments"><img alt="A city health office worker prepares a vial of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine during an inoculation drive in Marikina City, May 20 2021. Rolex dela Pena, EPA-EFE/file" src="https://sa.kapamilya.com/absnews/abscbnnews/media/2022/overseas/03/14/20220314-pfizer.jpg"/><figcaption>A city health office worker prepares a vial of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine during an inoculation drive in Marikina City, May 20 2021. <em>Rolex dela Pena, EPA-EFE/file</em></figcaption></figure></div><p><br/>MANILA — The country&#x27;s Vaccine Expert Panel is eyeing the possible COVID-19 vaccination of children ages 5 below soon, its head said Wednesday after the US regulatory body said Pfizer&#x27;s jab is safe and effective for the sector. </p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/06/14/22/us-fda-says-pfizer-covid-vaccine-effective-in-kids-under-five">US FDA says Pfizer Covid vaccine effective in kids under five</a></li></ul><p>Dr. Nina Gloriani said if kids aged under 5 would be vaccinated, the country&#x27;s immunization coverage &quot;will be complete.&quot; She noted though that they still need to seek the advice of pediatricians on who are qualified to get the jab.</p><p>&quot;Normally, we’re looking at more healthy children. Pero sa totoo lang, ang [mas] binibigyan din natin ng bakuna against COVID-19 ay iyong mga may sakit, kasi sila iyong mas makaka-experience ng more severe form of COVID-19,&quot; Gloriani said in a televised briefing.</p><p>(We prefer giving COVID-19 vaccines to those with comorbidity, who may experience a more severe form of COVID-19.) </p><p>The evaluation of the country&#x27;s Food and Drug Administration and local experts might take 3 to 4 months, she said. And the procurement process may be longer.</p><p>&quot;Sa experience namin, iyong evaluation process upon application takes – kasi mayroon tayong forty days ‘no – pero that takes longer kapag medyo kulang iyong mga datos na naibibigay,&quot; said Gloriani. </p><p>(The evaluation process takes 40 days but may be longer when the data is lacking.)</p><figure class="op-interactive"><iframe allow="autoplay; fullscreen" frameBorder="0" height="100%" id="ivsplayer01" scrolling="no" src="https://player.ivideosmart.com/ivsplayer/v4/dist/html/iframe-src.html?iframeid=ivsplayer01&amp;key=e8c22c015ca9eafa76f1e3edfa03c603&amp;spid=3001339&amp;vid=2079185" width="100%"></iframe></figure><div class="iwantbar">Watch more News on <a href="https://www.iwanttfc.com/#!/browse/Genres/News/tag_id_genres/id_news" target="_blank">iWantTFC</a></div><p>&quot;Pero isipin natin na mayroon pang second layer ng approval. Iyan po iyong sa DOH-HTAC (Department of Health - Health Technology Assessment Council). Kasi kung bibilhin ng gobyerno iyong bakuna, kailangan pong dumaan sa HTAC,&quot; she said. </p><p>(There is also a second layer of approval from the DOH-HTAC. If the government would buy the vaccine, it has to go through HTAC.)</p><p>&quot;Tapos iyong procurement process. So baka mga six months.&quot;</p><p>(With the procurement process alone, so around 6 months.)</p><ul class="op-related-articles">	<li><a href="https://news.abs-cbn.com/overseas/05/24/22/pfizer-covid-jab-for-under-fives-effective-with-3-doses">Pfizer COVID jab for under-fives effective with three doses</a></li></ul><p>No vaccine manufacturer has so far applied for their jabs&#x27; emergency use for children ages 5 below in the Philippines, Gloriani said. </p><p>Pfizer&#x27;s first 2 shots are given three weeks apart, then the third is given eight weeks after the second. They are all dosed at 3 micrograms, as opposed to 30 micrograms the company gives those 12 and up, and 10 micrograms to those five and up, levels chosen to mitigate adverse reactions.</p><p>Both Pfizer and Moderna had previously posted their results in press statements, but the US FDA then had to review the data in detail and carry out its own evaluation. </p><p>It posted a favorable analysis about Moderna. </p><p>Meanwhile, a vaccine manufacturer has already applied for their booster shots to be used for individuals over 6 years old, according to Gloriani. </p><p>She referred the matter to the Philippine FDA. </p><p>&quot;Medyo natatagalan sa evaluation. Pero iyong iba na hinihintay natin sana, iyong major players ay hindi pa. Sana ay mag-apply na rin sila,&quot; she said. </p><p>(The evaluation is taking long. We are still waiting since some major players have yet to submit theirs. We are hoping they would apply.)</p><p>As of June 9, the government has fully vaccinated some 2.9 million children between 5 to 11 years old, while nearly 9.5 million teens ages 11 to 17 years old are also fully immunized from the virus. </p><div><strong>— with a report from Agence France-Presse</strong></div><div class="infogram-embed" data-id="_/yFVE69R1WlSdqY3aCsBF" data-title="COVID-19 VACCINE TRACKER PH" data-type="interactive"> </div><script type="text/javascript">!function(e,i,n,s){var t='InfogramEmbeds',d=e.getElementsByTagName('script')[0];if(window[t]&&window[t].initialized)window[t].process&&window[t].process();else if(!e.getElementById(n)){var o=e.createElement('script');o.async=1,o.id=n,o.src='https://e.infogram.com/js/dist/embed-loader-min.js',d.parentNode.insertBefore(o,d)}}(document,0,'infogram-async');</script>

Dr. Nina Gloriani said if individuals aged under 5 would be vaccinated, the country's immunization coverage 'will be complete.'

After US studies, expert panel eyeing COVID vaccination of ages 5 below soon

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After US studies, expert panel eyeing COVID vaccination of ages 5 below soon

Job Manahan,

ABS-CBN News

Published Jun 15, 2022 05:29 PM PHT

Read More:

Nina Gloriani

Dr. Nina Gloriani

HTAC

Vaccine Expert Panel

COVID19

COVID-19

COVID

coronavirus

covid19 vaccination

vaccination of children ages 5 below

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