P75B needed for expanded COVID-19 vaccination

Finance Secretary Carlos Dominguez III said the government might need an additional P75 billion until next year for its expanded coronavirus vaccination program.

The budget includes about P20 billion to vaccinate approximately 15 million teenagers aged 12 to 17, following reports that US regulators have authorized Pfizer and BioNTech's vaccine for use on children as young as 12.

Dominguez also said the government needs an additional P55 billion next year to acquire booster shots to cover around 85 million Filipinos, including adults and teenagers.