The COVID-19 vaccines will be administered to children aged 5 to11-year-old starting on Friday, Feb. 4.
National Task Force (NTF) Against Covid-19 Chief Implementer Secretary Carlito Galvez Jr. revealed that the government is much more prepared now since they learned numerous lessons from vaccinating minors aged 12 to 17.
During President Rodrigo Duterte’s Talk to the People on Jan. 25, Galvez assured the parents of the children that the vaccines are proven safe.
“Very safe ang ating gagamitin na bakuna dahil ito ay mas mababa ang formulation na angkop para sa mga bata,” Galvez said.
(Translation: The vaccine that we will be using is very safe since it has a lower formulation, appropriate for children.)
Currently, the COVID-19 vaccine made by Pfizer BioNTech is the only brand issued an emergency use authorization (EUA) by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for 5 to 11-year old vaccination.
On the same day, the Department of Health (DOH) undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire explained on a press briefing that even though the two age groups (12-17-year-old and 5-11-year-old) may receive the same Pfizer vaccine, the formula is different.
Compared to minors aged 12 to 17, 5 to 11-year-old children will receive a lower dosage and concentration of their vaccine.
“Para siguradong tama ang (bakunang) ituturok, magkaiba ang kulay ng takip sa mga botelya ng bakuna. Iba po ang kulay sa 12 to 17, at iba rin po sa 5 to 11,” she added.
(Translation: To ensure that they will get the correct vaccine dose, the bottle lids for 12 to 17 and 5 to 11 years old will have different colors.)
Meanwhile, the DOH said that there will be at least 32 vaccination sites for the upcoming pediatric inoculation on the said age group, including National Children’s Hospital, Philippine Children’s Medical Center, Philippine Heart Center, and Manila Zoo.
The DOH explained that the implementation of pediatric inoculation on the intended age group will be using a phased approach:
Phase 1: Pilot rollout in designated vaccination sites in the National Capital Region (NCR) as determined by the local government units and the National Vaccination Operation Center (NVOC).
Phase 2: Expansion of the vaccination rollout in the NCR, pilot rollout in designated vaccination sites in other regions.
Requirements for pediatric inoculation
Parents residing from Manila can now enlist their kids for vaccination in their respective local government units.
“They only need to provide documents that prove their relationships with their children upon arriving at the site,” Vergeire explained.
DOH undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said that more than 168,000 children in the 5 to 11-year old age group has already registered for getting their first jab of the COVID-19 vaccine as of Jan. 29.
According to Cabotaje on a press briefing in People’s Television Network (PTV), the list of requirements that parents need to provide during their child’s vaccination are the following:
A child is accompanied by a parent or guardian
Proofs of relationship (e.g. birth certificate)
Valid ID of child, with picture
Valid ID of parent or guardian, with picture
A medical certificate, if with comorbidities
Well-fitted face mask and face shield
Writing materials
Alcohol, fan, water, as necessary
Cabotaje also explained that if the kid does not have a valid ID to prove the relationship between the parent and the child, barangay captains can be witnesses.
The Philippine government targets to inoculate 15.5 million children belonging to the 5 to 11 age group.
By Hazel Laplana
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