The government move to expand the vaccination program to the younger population is one step toward the resumption of physical classes as the pandemic has disrupted the education of Filipino learners with school closures and hybrid or purely online setups.
National Task Force (NTF) Against COVID-19 chief implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. assured parents that reformulated vaccines for children aged 5 to 11 years old are safe and effective, just like the jabs for other age groups.
“I believe and we are very confident that the national vaccination program of the government is very strong and really protecting the family and the children and we follow the process,” Galvez said.
The government began the pilot rollout of the vaccination program for kids aged 5 to 11 on February 7.
“It is very important that we vaccinate children so that they can go around and go to schools,” he added.
Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said the country can now look forward to more schools conducting face-to-face classes.
“Because of this, finally, we can open up a big part of our basic education sector. We will now have face-to-face classes that we were not able to do for two years when it was suspended, so now it will be safer,” Duque said.
From an initial plan of six venues, 38 vaccination sites in Metro Manila, five hospitals in Central Luzon, three in Calabarzon, and one in Cotabato City simultaneously started administering the lower doses of the Pfizer vaccines.
The vaccine contains 10 micrograms in a 0.2 milliliter (mL) dose, lower compared to the 30 micrograms for a 0.3 mL dose received by the 12 to 17 group.
There have been no major adverse events recorded after inoculating children aged 12 to 17.
The Philippine Pediatric Society (PPS) and the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP) has expressed its support to the expansion of the vaccination drive as the “COVID-19 disease directly affects children and may lead to serious consequences.”
In a joint statement released, PPS and PIDSP noted that the COVID-19 pandemic has indirect effects on children, such as worsening mental health, widening education gaps, decreased physical activity, increased body mass index, decreased routine immunizations, and increased Adverse Childhood Experiences. Professionals, doctors and nurses, to organizations, like the Philippine Pediatric Society,” he said.
“This is a most welcome development to keep our children in a state of health and free the spirit that defines what it is to be a child,” PPS president Dr. Joselyn Eusebio said.
“The coronavirus cannot be overcome by the armor of health and safety protocols alone. The body must be strengthened from within by giving it a vaccine,” she added.
The government targets to vaccinate at least 15.56 million in the 5-11 age bracket.
