DOH, experts have yet to recommend vaccinating children vs. COVID-19 —Vergeire

The Department of Health (DOH) and experts have yet to issue a recommendation to have children vaccinated against COVID-19, even if an emergency use authorization (EUA) has already been given for the use of Moderna shots for children aged 12 to 17 years old, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said on Saturday.

"Although inaprubahan na ang EUA ng Moderna for 12 to 17 years old, hindi pa rin po binibigyan ng rekomendasyon ng DOH together with the experts in the vaccine cluster itong sa pagbabakuna sa mga bata," Vergeire said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(Although the EUA for Moderna was approved for 12 to 17 years old, the DOH and experts in the vaccine cluster have not yet issued a recommendation for vaccination of children.)

"Antayin natin na magbibigay tayo ng appropriate recommendation and this will come in the coming months. Pinag-aaralan pa rin pong mabuti," she added.

(Please wait for us to give appropriate recommendation, and this will come in the coming months. We are studying the matter carefully.)

The Philippine government on Friday approved the amendment in the EUA of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine to include its use on adolescents aged 12 to 17 years old.

"After a thorough evaluation by our vaccine experts and our regulatory experts in FDA, we approved this Friday the use under EUA of the Moderna vaccine for adolescents aged 12 to 17," said Director General Eric Domingo of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) during the Laging Handa public briefing.

Domingo, however, warned of rare cases of myocarditis due to the Moderna vaccine, which he said is also similar with other mRNA vaccines. He said cases of myocarditis are one in every million and more prevalent in younger males.

"But definitely with the Delta variant affecting a lot of children, our experts saw that the benefit of using the vaccine outweighs the risk," Domingo said.

Vergeire said the FDA based its decision to grant EUA on the documents submitted regarding the product's safety.

"Sa evaluation nila, pumapasa na sa standards nila," she said.

(In their evaluation, the [Moderna COVID-19 vaccine] has passed their standards [in determining if it can be given to children].)

However, the government is looking at other things such as equity, Vergeire said.

Senior citizens and adults aged 30 and up are the ones more prone to getting severe COVID-19, she said.

Although cases among children are rising, their cases are usually mild, Vergeire said.

"Para mas efficient, tutukan muna [ang mas vulnerable]. 'Pag nagkaroon na tayo ng stable supply [of vaccines], then we can vaccinate children," she added.

(To be efficient, we will focus first on those more vulnerable sectors. Once we have a stable supply [of vaccines], then we can vaccinate children.)

Vergeire said the DOH will conduct an information campaign regarding vaccination of children against COVID-19.

"Medyo may resistance or agam-agam ang mga magulang na pabakunahan ang kanilang mga anak. Meron naman tayong ganyan [information campaign]," she said.

(There is some resistance or hesitancy among parents to have their children vaccinated. We have [an information campaign].)

The Philippines on Friday reported 20,310 new COVID-19 cases, the second highest daily infections reported since the pandemic.

This brought the nationwide tally to 2,040,568 and active cases to 158,994, also the highest since April 17.

Last month, a hospital official reported that there more cases of COVID-19 in children among their patients.

Dr. Rontgene Solante, chairman of the Adult Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine unit of the San Lazaro Hospital, said this may be caused by the highly transmissible Delta variant.

"Compared natin last year or last March, kaunti lang talaga ang mga bata. Ngayon, nadadagdagan na. Most of the symptoms are very mild lang so they have cough, fever, except for one, which was the youngest I think 3 months old which was more or less severe form of COVID," Solante said.

(Last year or last March, very few kids were taken to hospital. But now, there are a lot more. Most of the symptoms are very mild, so they have a cough, fever. Except for one case, which was the youngest I think. A three-month-old who more or less has a  severe form of COVID.) —KG, GMA News