DOH: 52K minors aged 5-11 vaccinated, only 4 experienced mild side effects

More than 50,000 minors aged 5 to 11 have been vaccinated against COVID-19 since the government rolled out the vaccination program on February 7, the Department of Health (DOH) announced Friday.

Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said a total of 52,262 minors belonging to the said age group have received one dose in 56 vaccination sites.

Of this, she said only four children experienced mild adverse events following immunization (AEFI) such as pain at the injection site, rashes, a slight increase in blood pressure, fever, and vomiting.

Vergeire said the minors immediately recovered.

“Paalala po sa ating mga magulang na ‘wag po tayong matakot at mangamba dahil handa po ang ating mga healthcare workers at ang vaccination sites upang tugunan ang ano mang AEFI namaaring maramdaman ng inyong mga anak,” she said.

(We assure our parents to not be afraid because our healthcare workers and our vaccination sites are prepared to address whatever AEFI may be experienced by your children.)

“Kaya naman po muli po amin pong hinihikayat ang aming mga magulang, ang ating mga legal guardian, iparehistro na po natin ang ating mga kabataan edad 5 hanggang 11 taon para sa karagdagang proteksyon,” she later added.

(That’s why we are again encouraging parents and legal guardians to register our children aged 5 to 11 for vaccination for their protection.)

According to Vergeire, children below 5 years old have the highest case fatality rate among the pediatric age group from March 2021 up to January 2022, aside from December 2021.

“Pinakamataas ang naitalang case fatality rate noong Nobyembre kung saan tumama ito sa 1.47%,” she said.

The case fatality or death percentage of COVID-19 cases, however, still remains highest among senior citizens due to their comorbidities.

Vaccination not mandatory

Meanwhile, Vergeire stressed that the Health Department never mandated parents to vaccinate their children.

“Kahit kailan hindi po sinabi ng Department of Health na ang ating pagbabakuna ay pwe-pwersahin natin ang ating mga magulang. This is purely voluntary, we are asking for the consent and the assent of kids,” she said.

(The DOH has never said that we are forcing our parents to vaccinate their children. This is purely voluntary. We are asking for the consent and assent of kids.)

Health Secretary Francisco Duque III has also said that parental consent is still necessary after the government removed the provision wherein the State may give the necessary consent for the vaccination of minors aged 5 to 11 years old.

Vergeire said the DOH is also reviewing COVID-19 policies for the vaccination of adolescents aged 12 to 17.

“Kasi evolving po ang science at maraming nangyayari sa bawat araw kaya maari po nating palitang ang mga polisiyang to,” she said.

(Because science is evolving and there are many things happening each day so it is possible we may change the policy.)

“So having said, we have revised or amended our policy for the 5 to 11 years old and we are now reviewing our policy for the 12 to 17 years old,” she added. — RSJ, GMA News