Adult dose COVID-19 vaccine jabbed on child

An adult dose of COVID-19 vaccine was administered to an 11-year-old child in a pediatric vaccination site in Manila.

According to Cedric Castillo’s “24 Oras” report on Wednesday, coordinators in the pediatric vaccination site were shocked when the mother of the child said her daughter is set to receive her second dose.

Based on the vaccination card of the child, it was indicated that her birth date was in July 2010. 

The child is not yet 12-years-old, however, she was vaccinated with the first dose of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine last January 10, 2022.

The pilot rollout of COVID-19 vaccination for five to 11 years old in the country started in the National Capital Region on Monday, February 7.

GMA News tried to reach out to the mother but she refused to be interviewed.

Meanwhile, the Department of Health – National Capital Region (DOH-NCR) said it is currently investigating the incident.

Dr. Nina Gloriani, vaccine expert panel chief, said the child must be monitored for possible side effects of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“The child will be monitored for possible side effects, but I do not foresee any problem. The dose is for an adult and if the child is big enough… (she) should be able to handle that,” Dr. Nina Gloriani, vaccine expert panel chief, said.

“Pfizer vaccine was studied across low, medium, and high dose de-escalation studies where they found similar immune response and efficacy between the ages 5 to 11 and 12 to 17, even compared to those above 18. But it is something that vaccinators should be very conscious of when administering the doses,” Gloriani said.

Dr. Anna Lisa Ong-Lim, member of DOH-Technical Advisory Group (TAG), said age appropriate doses of COVID-19 vaccine should be given to the people.

“Age appropriate dose should be given. Kung ano ang edad mo on the time na nakaharap ka doon sa vaccination site at babakunahan, ‘yun ang tatanggapin na guide kung anong dose ang iyong tatanggapin,” Dr. Anna Lisa Ong-Lim member of DOH-TAG.

“Base doon sa experience na nakalap na sa ibang mga bansa, ang recommendation is hindi na kailangang ulitin pa,” she added.—LDF, GMA News