NCH records 1,467 registrants for 5 to 11 age group COVID-19 vaccination

The National Children’s Hospital (NCH) said it has received a total of 1,467 registrants, as of 10 a.m. Thursday, in time for the start of the COVID-19 vaccination for children aged 5 to 11 on Friday, February 4.

During a Laging Handa briefing, National Children’s Hospital medical chief Dr. Moriel Creencia said that as part of their preparations, they had to establish an online registration where parents or guardians could fill up a form for the inoculation of their young children.

She said those who have registered should have received a text message confirming their vaccination schedule. However, those who did not may go directly to the NCH as they accept walk-ins.

“So kung baga po, hanggang February 15, may mga naka-schedule na kami ng babakunahan [we have a scheduled number of vaccinees until February 15],” she added.

The NCH has also trained and oriented the vaccinators, made ready the ancillary supplies, and prepared the venue where the inoculation would transpire, while anticipating that more people will arrive as children have to be with their guardians.

“Of course, isa sa pinahanda namin ‘yung magkaroon ng mga television set sa waiting area para hindi naiinip ‘yung mga bata [we set up TV sets so that children would not get bored],” she said.

The COVID-19 vaccination of children aged 5 to 11 will be initially rolled out in six vaccination sites in Metro Manila, including the NCH.

Other participating areas for this vaccination drive are The Philippine Heart Center, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Manila Zoo, SM North Edsa (Skydome), and Fil Oil Gym in San Juan City.

Around 7 million children are under this age group.

National Task Force Against COVID-19 medical adviser Dr. Ted Herbosa said that the first tranche of the vaccination drive for the 5 to 11 years old will prioritize those with comorbidities or with coexisting health conditions.

“Ang gagamitin po diyan ay ‘yung orange cap o orange cap na vial na ang dose niyan ay 0.2 ml equivalent to 10 micrograms. Sa isang dose, sa isang botelya ay makakapagbigay tayo diyan ng sampung doses bawat bakuna, bawat vial,” Creencia noted.

(What we would use is the orange cap or vial which has a dosage of 0.2 ml equivalent to 10 micrograms. In one dose or bottle, we could give ten doses pero vaccine.)

Just like with others who got the jab, the NCH chief emphasized that children who get vaccinated could also expect pain in the injected area and experience flu-like symptoms such as fever, headache, and muscle pain.

After getting inoculated, those with a history of allergies have to stay for observation for 30 minutes, while 15 minutes for those that do not have allergies, she added.

Meanwhile, Creencia noted there were 44 children who tested positive for COVID-19 in the NCH and exhibited symptoms. Of this number, two were in critical condition.

“Yesterday po ‘yan, dalawa ‘yung critical. Pero ngayon, wala na kaming intubated. All the rest are considered suspects. Pero ‘yung COVID-19 positive sila through RT-PCR, 44 ‘yun,” she said.

(Yesterday, two children were in critical condition, but now, none of them are intubated. All the rest are considered suspects, while those who tested positive for COVID-19 were 44 children.)

Due to this, Creencia encouraged parents to let their children get vaccinated so that they could finally go out and go back to school in the new normal.

“Alisin na natin ‘yung agam agam natin na masama ang bakuna, nakamamatay. Of course may mga reactions, unexpected reactions na pupwedeng mangyari pero ‘yun ay maliit lamang na porsyento,” she stressed.

(Let's veer away from the thinking that vaccines are bad or deadly. Of course, there would be unexpected reactions that could happen but that’s only a small percentage.)

On November 3, 2021, the Philippines started the COVID-19 vaccination for minors aged 12 to 17.

While in late December of 2021, the Food and Drug Administration approved the emergency use authorization for the Pfizer vaccine for 5 to 11 years old.—AOL, GMA News