INTERNATIONAL: A Covid-19 vaccination drive for children aged five to 11 has launched in the Philippine capital on Monday,February 7, featuring a circus-themed inoculation centre complete with stilt walkers and puppeteers.

Performers has made balloon swords and performers in superhero costumes have posed for pictures with kids at the centre in Manila.

The Philippines' Food and Drug Administration has so far only approved a lower dosage of the Pfizer vaccine for use in children.

The government aims to vaccinate over 15 million children, according to the country's health department. The inoculation drive will move to other parts of the country outside of Manila on February 14.

The country as so far fully inoculated about half of its population, but many areas outside the capital region are still lagging far behind, complicating efforts to suppress fresh outbreaks of the virus.