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Manila Bulletin devider Philippines devider National devider DOH says over 8K children with comorbidities vaccinated vs COVID-19

DOH says over 8K children with comorbidities vaccinated vs COVID-19

Published Oct 23, 2021 03:48 pm

A medical worker administer a COVID-19 vaccine to a minor at the Las Pinas District Hospital during the second phase of the COVID-19 vaccination for minors in Metro Manila on Oct. 22, 2021. (Photo by Ali Vicoy)

The Department of Health (DOH) said that more than 8,000 children with comorbidities in the country were already vaccinated against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).

“Meron na po tayong 8,639 children who were already vaccinated. Ito yung mga kabataan na may comorbidities (We already have 8,639 children who were already vaccinated. These are children with comorbidities),” said DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire on Saturday, Oct. 23.

Vergeire said they were able to receive reports that four children experienced adverse events following immunization (AEFI).

Three of them had an allergic reaction but were eventually managed, while the other experienced an anxiety-related reaction, said Vergeire.

The government started its vaccination rollout to children with comorbidities aged 12 to 17 last Oct. 15 in Metro Manila. The DOH said that there are about 144,000 children with comorbidities in the National Capital Region. For the whole country, there are around 1.2 million children with comorbidities from ages 12 to 17 nationwide, the DOH said.

Vergeire also defended the decision of the government to conduct the pediatric vaccination in hospitals, saying that the “government will not expose our children to any harm.”

“Lagi po iyan iyong safety po ay primary concern natin specifically para sa ating mga kabataan. Kaya po tayo pumili noong tinatawag na safe spaces even in hospitals para sa mga kabataang ito (Safety has always been our primary concern specifically for our youth. That is why we chose these so-called safe spaces even in hospitals for these children),” she said.

“Atin pong in-inspect lahat po itong vaccination sites ng mga ospital na naisama natin bago po natin sila pinayagan na magbabakuna na for the children (We inspected all these vaccination sites of the hospitals we included before we allowed them to participate in the pediatric vaccination),” she added.

Vergeire’s statement comes after Iloilo 1st District Rep. Janette Garin questioned the move of the government to hold the pediatric vaccination in hospitals, saying that "hospital setting is not the safest place to be during a pandemic."

"Doing vaccination in hospitals will expose our teenage children to more viruses and possibly to COVID-19," said Garin last Oct. 19.

Related story: Garin: Vaccination in hospitals not safe for teenagers

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covid-19 Department of Health (DOH)
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