PAO cites ‘undue experimentation’ in seeking stop to COVID-19 vaccination of kids aged 5-11

A petition was filed before the Quezon City Regional Trial Court to stop the health department from vaccinating children aged 5 to 11 against the coronavirus.

The petitioners, who were parents of children aged 5 to 11, were represented by the Public Attorneys' Office.

According to a report on "24 Oras" on Thursday, Chief Public Attorney Persida Acosta, who has refused to be vaccinated against COVID-19, said the parents want to stop the inoculation of their children to protect them from "undue experimentation."

Petitioners Dominic Almelor and Girlie Samonte said they did not file the petition to "purposely denigrate" the Duterte administration's efforts in trying to control the pandemic, but to "guide him in saving the lives of Filipino children."

The respondents named in the petition are Health Secretary Francisco Duque III, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, and the Department of Health.

In a joint statement, the DOH and the National Task Force Against COVID-19 said that it is the right of the individuals to file a case.

However, they maintained that the vaccination rollout will continue.

“The policy on vaccinating children aged five to 11 is the result of careful study by health experts and has been approved in many countries, including the United States of America which has one of the most stringent regulatory bodies in the world,” the joint statement read.

“And as we have emphasized, all FDA-approved COVID-19 vaccines have been proven to be safe and effective,” it added.

The DOH and the NTF said over 100,000 children 5 to 11 years old have so far been pre-registered for vaccination.

The agencies also called on parents and guards to make the right and informed decision for their children’s health and well-being.

“Vaccinating them is crucial to achieving our goal of protecting all members of the Filipino family – children, adults, and senior citizens. This will enable us to continue the safe reopening of schools and other public spaces, as well as to ensure the full economic recovery of our nation,” they said.—Ma. Angelica Garcia/LDF, GMA News