Duque: Safe, quality COVID-19 vaccines imported for children; cites low adverse events

Health Department Secretary Francisco Duque III on Friday assured parents that safe and quality vaccines were imported to inoculate children against COVID-19 as the pilot vaccination of children with comorbidities aged 12 to 17 years started earlier in the day.

Duque also debunked the notion that the formulation of COVID-19 vaccines to be administered has changed.

“Mali po yun dahil ‘yan naman ay pinagaralan at talagang sinuring maigi na ligtas at dekalidad ang mga bakuna nating inaangkat, libre pa, at magbibigay ng proteksyon okay na okay yon,” Duque said in an interview on Super Radyo dzBB.

(That notion is wrong because the vaccines we import have been studied and really tested to be safe and of good quality, it's still free and will provide protection, that is okay.)

Duque said the adverse events among the vaccinated population were very low.

“Pangkalahatan mababa yung adverse events parang nasa 0.006%,” he said.

(Overall, adverse events are low at 0.006%.)

Meanwhile, Duque said if the vaccination for the 1.2 million children with comorbidities will be successful, then the vaccination rollout will be expanded to the general pediatric age group.

“Antayin natin ang magiging leksyon o aral matapos natin tapusin yung 1.2 million na children or pediatric age group with comorbidities kung maayos naman at maging matagumpay palawigin na natin doon sa mga general pediatric age group,” he added.

(Let's wait for the results and findings after we finish vaccinating the 1.2 million children or pediatric age group with comorbidities then if it is okay and be successful, we will expand it to the general pediatric age groups.)

The pilot vaccination of children with comorbidities aged 12 to 17 years was conducted at eight hospitals starting Friday.

Among the hospitals tapped for the pilot vaccination were Makati Medical Center, St. Luke's Hospital, Philippine Children Medical Center, National Children's Hospital, Philippine Heart Center, Pasig City Children’s Hospital, Fe Del Mundo Medical Center, and Philippine General Hospital.

The Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given an emergency use authorization to Moderna and Pfizer vaccines for use on those aged 12 to 17 years old. — Richa Noriega/RSJ, GMA News