The Department of Health and the National Task Force against the Covid-19 (NTF) will proceed with the vaccination of the five to 11 years old age group despite the pending petition in court for issuance of a restraining order to stop the government from inoculating those in the age group.
Vaccination rollout for the five to 11 years old group will begin next week at six vaccination sites in the National Capital Region – the Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, National Children’s Hospital, Manila Zoo, SM North Edsa, and Fil Oil Gym in San Juan City.
For other regions, the rollout will begin by the third week of February.
In a statement, the DOH and NTF maintained vaccinating children in said age group has been carefully studied by health experts and has even been approved in countries with the most stringent screening processes, such as the United States.
Worldwide, 8.1 million children belonging to the age group have already been vaccinated and no adverse effects have so far been reported. It is also worth noting that of the nine million individuals in the 12 to 17 age group who were previously vaccinated, no adverse effects were reported after vaccination, the DOH and NTF said.
The DOH and NTF assured the reformulated vaccines of Pfizer which have been issued an emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Authority.
The DOH and the NTF also clarified parental consent is still required before vaccination.
“We enjoin all parents and guardians to make the right and informed decision for their children’s health and well-being. Vaccinating them is crucial to achieve our goal of protecting all members of the Filipino family – children, adults, and senior citizens. This will enable us to continue the safe reopening of schools and other public spaces, as well as ensure the full economic recovery of our nation,” the DOH and NTF said.
In Baguio, the Management Information and Technical Division reported 9,000 five to 11 years old have registered.
The City Health Services Office is appealing to parents or guardians to register at bakuna.baguio.gov.ph for the issuance of QR code which, along with medical certificate if with co-morbidity, and parental consent form, has to be presented during vaccination. – Rimaliza A. Opiña
April 19, 2024
