Pedia says optional masking in classrooms ‘risky’ due to low vax rate among children

A pediatrician on Wednesday raised concern over the voluntary wearing of face masks in classrooms amid the full implementation of face-to-face classes as many students remained to be unvaccinated or have not yet received their booster shots against COVID-19.

Dr. Benito Atienza, vice president III of the Philippine Federation of Professional Association, advised the continued wearing of masks in schools as there are classrooms without proper ventilation while others are too small and social distancing is difficult to follow.

“Ang risky. ‘Yung ating eskwelahan…dapat 25 lang, ngayon ang mga estudyante more than 40 sa isang room at saka ang problema natin talaga, ‘yung ventilation. Dapat open air ‘yan na labas pasok ang hangin. Makikita natin sa ating mga eskwelahan, hindi nasusunod ‘yun,” he said in a Super Radyo dzBB interview.

(It's risky. There should only be 25 students in a classroom, but there are more than 40 students now. Also, our real problem is the ventilation. Air in classrooms should be coming in and out. We can see that that is not being followed in some schools.)

The Department of Education (DepEd) confirmed on Tuesday that students and teachers attending face-to-face classes may now opt to remove their face masks even in classrooms, in accordance with the existing national policy on the optional masking indoors and outdoors.

Atienza said the government should also include schools in areas where the wearing of face masks is still mandatory, like healthcare facilities, medical transport vehicles, and public transportation.

He emphasized that face masks not only help prevent children from acquiring COVID-19, but also other infectious diseases like pneumonia and influenza.

“Siguro dapat i-specify kasi 'di ba pumapasok na rin ang mga kindergarten, mga less than 4…ayun talaga ang mga walang bakuna pa,” he added.

(Maybe it should be specified because kindergartens are also going to schools, those aged 4 and below haven't been vaccinated yet.)

Currently, primary COVID-19 vaccine series are being administered to aged five and above. Meanwhile, 12 years old and above could receive the first booster dose.

According to the Department of Health, almost 10 million adolescents and almost 5.2 million children are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19.

Before the schools reopened for in-person classes on August 22, DepEd reported that only 19% of learners were fully vaccinated against COVID-19, based on their Learner Information System.

The agency also confirmed receiving reports of COVID-19 cases in several schools. Vice President and Education Secretary Sara Duterte, however, said that this was a natural consequence of the reopening of different sectors, like education.—AOL, GMA News