Duterte expands vax program for minors to 13 more Metro Manila hospitals

President Rodrigo Duterte announced the expansion of the Philippines' COVID-19 vaccination program for minors to 13 more hospitals in Metro Manila.

The program, which began on October 15, has now administered the first dose to 3,416 children aged 12 to 17 with comorbidities.

Eligible comorbidities include medical complexity, genetic conditions, neurologic issues, metabolic or endocrine diseases, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, HIV infection, tuberculosis, chronic respiratory diseases, renal disorders, hepatobiliary diseases, and immunocompromised individuals.

Of the four reported adverse events following immunization among minors, one was a severe allergic reaction, while the others were minor stress-related reactions.

Nationwide, close to 53 million vaccine doses have been administered as of October 18, with 32 percent of the population fully vaccinated.

More than 80 percent of the population in the National Capital Region (NCR) is already fully vaccinated.