The arrival of 859,950 doses of US-made Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine, procured by the national government, is crucial to the ongoing pediatric vaccination program, an official of the National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 said Monday night.

Assistant Secretary Wilben Mayor, head of NTF’s sub-task force on current operations, welcomed the Air Hongkong Flight LD456 carrying the latest Pfizer shipment of Pfizer vaccine around 9:05 p.m. at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Terminal 3 in Pasay City.

The newly delivered shipment is procured through the funding support of the Asian Development Bank (ADB).

Mayor said the deliveries of Pfizer vaccines arrived timely as the government boosts the ongoing pediatric vaccination program efforts for a safe face-to-face classes by next year.

For now, limited in-person classes are held in areas identified as low risk for the coronavirus.

“Sa tuluy-tuloy na pagdating ng Pfizer ay madadagdagan yung ating mababakunahan na mga kabataan (With the continuous arrival of Pfizer vaccines, we can vaccinate more children),” he said.

The country’s Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Pfizer and Moderna vaccines to inoculate minors and adolescents — ages 12-17 years old.

As more vaccines arrive, Mayor urged the public anew to participate in the second round of the massive national vaccination days “Bayanihan, Bakunahan” from December 15 to 17, in a bid to reach the target of fully protecting 54 million Filipinos before yearend.

“We encourage, we appeal to those who haven’t vaccinated yet, to be vaccinated. We have all kinds of vaccines that are effective against COVID-19. With the threat of Omicron variant, it is necessary that we get vaccinated,” Mayor said.

So far, a total of 40,881,035 Filipinos are fully protected against the coronavirus, with 756,682 eligible individuals receiving booster shots and additional doses. (PNA)