6.2 million adolescents fully vaccinated vs. COVID-19

More than 6.2 million minors aged 12 to 17 have been fully vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), a health expert said Wednesday.

Dr. Mary Ann Bunyi of the Department of Health-Technical Advisory Group said this was 58.7% of the target population of 10.7 million.

Meanwhile, Bunyi said 7.6 million or 71.21% have received at least one dose.

Citing a report of the Food and Drug Administration, she said only 3.11% of the age group were reported to have experienced adverse events.

Of the adverse events, 94% were considered non-serious while 5% were considered serious.

The most commonly reported reactions were dizziness, injection site pain, pyrexia, headache, and increased blood pressure. There were two cases of myocarditis and one case of pericarditis.

“These patients have all recovered from these conditions,” she said.

Bunyi said the causality of the illness is still being investigated.

Meanwhile, she urged parents to vaccinate their children aged 5 to 11.

“Ang mga bakunang binibigay ng ating pamahalaan ay nagdaan ng masusing pagaaral. So hindi naman magbibigay ang pamahalaan ng isang bakuna na hindi ligtas at mabisa para sa mga batang ito,” she said at the DOH Kapihan.

(The vaccines provided by the government have undergone rigorous study. It will not give children a vaccine that is not safe and effective.)

“So kung ang hinahangad nila ay protektahan ang kanilang anak laban sa sakit na ito at maiwasan na magkaroon sila ng malalang sakit then maiging mabakunahan sila,” she added.

(So if their goal is to protect their children from this virus and prevent them from getting severe illness then it is best that they get them vaccinated.) — BM, GMA News