Minors as Young as 12 Could Get COVID Vaccines by 4th Quarter, Says FDA

The Philippines could vaccinate 12 to 17-year-olds against COVID-19 as early as the fourth quarter of this year, as long as supply permits, to help ease the unwinding of restrictions, the head of the Food and Drug Administration said Saturday.

The regulator has so far cleared jabs from Pfizer and Moderna for use on minors as young as 12 years old. Sinovac's request for emergency use authorization for 7 to 17-year-olds is pending approval due to incomplete trial data, said FDA Director General Eric Domingo.

Domingo cited recent cases of children falling sick with COVID-19 as the country battles a second surge this year, this time fueled by the Delta variant.

He said bulk of vaccine deliveries would arrive from October to December giving authorities room to include minors.

Vaccinting minors would likely follow a priority system similar to adults that would put kids with co-morbidities such as diabetes, hypertension and lung disease at the front of the line, Domingo said.