More than 2,000 kids aged five to 11 years old have received their COVID-19 vaccine in four days in Muntinlupa.
The Muntinlupa City government launched the “Resbakuna Kids” campaign to vaccinate the age group last Feb. 7.
From Feb. 7 to 10, a total of 2,067 kids aged five to 11 were vaccinated in two sites: Ospital ng Muntinlupa in Barangay Alabang and the Laguerta Health Center in Barangay Tunasan.
By barangay, Putatan has the highest total with 436 kids vaccinated followed by Tunasan, 400; Alabang, 319; Poblacion, 256; Cupang, 229; Ayala Alabang, 121; Sucat, 109; Bayanan, 85; and Buli, 33. A total of 79 vaccinated kids were classified as “others.”
The total number of vaccinated five-to-11 kids in four days is equivalent to three percent of the target pediatric population of 68,198 in Muntinlupa.
During the “Laging Handa” public briefing on Feb. 12, Health Usec. Maria Rosario Vergeire said since Feb. 7, there are a total of 52,262 kids aged five to 11 who were vaccinated in the country.
She said of the total, only four kids had minor reactions including hives and headache but these were immediately managed and were sent home.
Vergeire said the government will expand the rollout areas of the pediatric vaccination in other regions.
The country’s Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved the emergency use authorization (EUA) for the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine to be used in kids aged five to 11.
The Philippine Medical Association, Philippine Pediatric Society and the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines issued statements supporting the government’s campaign to vaccinate children five to 11 years old, saying the vaccine is safe.
“The available COVID-19 vaccines for children aged 5 to 11 years have undergone extensive evaluation from the United States Food and Drug Administration. They have been granted Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) by the Philippine Food and Drug Administration. They have been found to be safe and effective in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 and its complications Providing COVID-19 vaccines will help reduce the disease burden in this age group,” the PMA said.