An official from the Department of Health (DOH) urged Filipinos to have their entire family vaccinated to secure protection against the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
"Yung pagpapabakuna po natin bilang isang pamilya ay paraan ma-protektahan ang sarili natin, pati yung iba pang hindi pa pwedeng magpabakuna kabataang labing isa pababa," said Alfonso Regala, Head of Program Implementation and Outreach Division of DOH, during the Talakayang Makabata 2021 on Tuesday, Oct. 26.
He also emphasized that children with comorbidities must be vaccinated to prevent them from having high risk of severe of COVID-19.
"Kailangan natin protektahan yung mga kabataang may karamdaman kasi sila yung higit na mas vulnerable sa severe na COVID-19 (We need to protect young people with illness because they are the ones who are more vulnerable to severe COVID-19)," he said.
"Panagalwa, kahit pa protektahan natin sila yng may mga comorbidity whether adult or kabataan, mahalaga pa rin sundan natin 'yung prioritization (Secondly, even if we protect those with comorbidities, whether adult or youth. it is important to follow the prioritization)," he added.
Regala said vaccines for minors with comorbidities will be distributed to the rest of the country starting Friday, Oct. 29.
He assured that only those vaccines granted with emergency use authorization by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) will be used to ensure its safety and efficacy.