ILOILO City – This southern city is preparing to list its children population – as young as 12 years old – for possible inclusion in the government’s coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) vaccination program.
The national government mulled inoculating minors, with National Inter-Agency Task Force (IATF) chairman and vaccine czar Carlito Galvez saying they may commence adolescent vaccination by end-September or October depending on supplies and go signal from experts.
In Iloilo City, Mayor Jerry Treñas directed the City Population Office to identify these 12 to 17 year olds and secure their parents’ consent.
“Ang bakuna nga usaron ta ang i-allow sang FDA (Philippine Food and Drug Administration) sa aton. So ginapreparahan ta,” said Treñas.
The FDA has so far given an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) to Pfizer vaccine for those aging 12 years old and above.
Sinovac has also sought FDA’s approval on its use for children three years old and above.
In the Philippines and even abroad, many children were reported to have been infected with COVID-19.
Particularly in the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) pediatric COVID-19 ward, there were reports of children admitted with complicated cases of coronavirus.
However, it cannot be said right now if the children can be vaccinated against COVID-19 since the vaccines are not yet tested on minors, according to Dr. Philip Ian Padilla, vice chancellor for Academic Affairs of the University of the Philippines-Visayas.
“Seguro amo ‘na ang next step, seguraduhon ta nga safe ang mga bakuna para sa bata. Need pa aprobahan sang FDA kag DOH (Department of Health),” said Padilla, who was the resource person during Monday’s virtual presser and Isyung Bakuna Online Talakayan.
He, however, pointed out that in America, there were already children vaccinated against COVID-19 aged 12 to18 years old.
“Ang reports nga naga gwa subong sa America when it comes to pediatric patients nagadamu kag mas nagalala. Indi ta mahambal kon Delta (variant) gid man ina,” he said. “Isa pa gid ka basehan, ang PGH as referral hospital… gina document pa nila subong pero kadamu sang aton mga pediatric patients nga nagaka-COVID kag mas lala kumpara sa mga kaso before nga COVID-19 like 2020 nga data.”
In a statement, the DOH said the increase in COVID-19 cases is being experienced across all age groups and not just among children.
There was an overall 59 percent increase in cases among all age groups in the country during the period of July 13 to July 25 compared with July 26 to Aug. 8.
During the said period, the highest increase was observed among the 30 to 39 age group, and the lowest was among those 80 years old and above.
Meanwhile, the department also said the COVID-19 national vaccination program is following priority groups to allocate COVID-19 vaccines to those who need them the most due to global scarcity of vaccine supplies.
As of Aug. 7, the government has fully vaccinated 11.2 million individuals.
“Patuloy po ang aming panawagan sa mga eligible population groups na magpabakuna na,” said Health undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergiere.
“To all adults eligible for vaccination, please register with your local government units for immediate vaccination while children are not yet vaccinated. By vaccinating yourselves, you are also protecting the children as you will shield them from possible COVID-19 infection,” Vergeire added./PN
