Children's vaccination
Published Feb 17, 2022 12:05 am
'TOL Views
Senator Francis N. Tolentino
We are in a state of public health emergency by virtue of Proclamation No. 922. As such, we are all urged to act within the bounds of the law and to comply with the lawful directives and advisories to be issued by the appropriate government agencies to prevent further transmission of the COVID-19 virus and ensure the safety and well-being of all.
The Department of Health (DOH), by authority granted to it under Republic Act No. 10152 or the Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act of 2011, can issue a circular requiring parents to vaccinate their children against the COVID-19 virus. Notably, however, the said law only requires inoculation of infants and children up to five years of age.
This law must be amended to expand the required inoculation to children up to 11 years of age.
First, children are also vulnerable to contracting the COVID-19 virus. And transmitting it.
The DOH reported that during the surge of the Omicron variant in January 2022, 69.2 percent of recorded COVID-19 cases among minors (aged 17 years old and below) were children up to 11 years of age. While it is difficult to fully determine the real burden of the pediatric group to the fight against the virus, attributable to limitations in reported cases and restrictions in the mobility of the said age group, among others, this increase in COVID-19 infections by the birth of a new variant is a concern in our efforts to contain the virus.
Expanding the mandatory vaccination for diseases that can be prevented by a vaccine, including that of COVID-19, to a wider bracket in the pediatric group is certainly a significant step towards achieving herd immunity.
Second, expanding the age limit to cover children up to 11 years of age would harmonize the government’s pediatric COVID-19 vaccination program at present.
On Jan. 24, 2022, the DOH issued Department Memorandum No. 2022-0041, which provides for the interim guidelines on the management and administration of the COVID-19 vaccine to the pediatric population ages five to 11 years old. This DOH issuance recommends the vaccination of children aged five to 11 years old and requires the informed consent of the child’s parent or guardian and the vaccine recipient child’s assent. If the child is below seven years old, no formal assent is needed if there is no manifestation of dissent. If a child is seven to 11 years old, written assent shall be documented by the child’s signature. Verbal assent is also accepted.
Expanding the pediatric age bracket would solidify the DOH’s authority under Republic Act No. 10152 in its goal to ensure the right to health and general welfare of the people.
Lastly, an increase in the number of vaccinated children may put parents and guardians at ease in sending their children back to school.
The Philippines was the last country in the world to reopen school doors for face-to-face learning. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), an estimated 27 million students in the Philippines have lost more than a year of in-person learning.” The United Nations agency also noted that children’s lack of in-person interaction with peers has a detrimental impact on the emotional and cognitive development of a child. The alternative of physical learning – remote learning – certainly has its limitations for households belonging to different economic classes insofar as constant access to technology and the internet is concerned. Distance learning reveals economic divide.
It is true that we are in a state of public health emergency. As such, the government and its people must work together to defeat this virus, with the government acting within the bounds of law and the people trusting that its elected have their human rights and general welfare in mind in the execution of policies in pursuit of public health. The sooner we reach herd immunity, the faster we get to return to our normal lives – that is, to the extent of what ‘normal’ is in a post-pandemic world.
Senator Francis N. Tolentino
We are in a state of public health emergency by virtue of Proclamation No. 922. As such, we are all urged to act within the bounds of the law and to comply with the lawful directives and advisories to be issued by the appropriate government agencies to prevent further transmission of the COVID-19 virus and ensure the safety and well-being of all.
The Department of Health (DOH), by authority granted to it under Republic Act No. 10152 or the Mandatory Infants and Children Health Immunization Act of 2011, can issue a circular requiring parents to vaccinate their children against the COVID-19 virus. Notably, however, the said law only requires inoculation of infants and children up to five years of age.
This law must be amended to expand the required inoculation to children up to 11 years of age.
First, children are also vulnerable to contracting the COVID-19 virus. And transmitting it.
The DOH reported that during the surge of the Omicron variant in January 2022, 69.2 percent of recorded COVID-19 cases among minors (aged 17 years old and below) were children up to 11 years of age. While it is difficult to fully determine the real burden of the pediatric group to the fight against the virus, attributable to limitations in reported cases and restrictions in the mobility of the said age group, among others, this increase in COVID-19 infections by the birth of a new variant is a concern in our efforts to contain the virus.
Expanding the mandatory vaccination for diseases that can be prevented by a vaccine, including that of COVID-19, to a wider bracket in the pediatric group is certainly a significant step towards achieving herd immunity.
Second, expanding the age limit to cover children up to 11 years of age would harmonize the government’s pediatric COVID-19 vaccination program at present.
On Jan. 24, 2022, the DOH issued Department Memorandum No. 2022-0041, which provides for the interim guidelines on the management and administration of the COVID-19 vaccine to the pediatric population ages five to 11 years old. This DOH issuance recommends the vaccination of children aged five to 11 years old and requires the informed consent of the child’s parent or guardian and the vaccine recipient child’s assent. If the child is below seven years old, no formal assent is needed if there is no manifestation of dissent. If a child is seven to 11 years old, written assent shall be documented by the child’s signature. Verbal assent is also accepted.
Expanding the pediatric age bracket would solidify the DOH’s authority under Republic Act No. 10152 in its goal to ensure the right to health and general welfare of the people.
Lastly, an increase in the number of vaccinated children may put parents and guardians at ease in sending their children back to school.
The Philippines was the last country in the world to reopen school doors for face-to-face learning. According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), an estimated 27 million students in the Philippines have lost more than a year of in-person learning.” The United Nations agency also noted that children’s lack of in-person interaction with peers has a detrimental impact on the emotional and cognitive development of a child. The alternative of physical learning – remote learning – certainly has its limitations for households belonging to different economic classes insofar as constant access to technology and the internet is concerned. Distance learning reveals economic divide.
It is true that we are in a state of public health emergency. As such, the government and its people must work together to defeat this virus, with the government acting within the bounds of law and the people trusting that its elected have their human rights and general welfare in mind in the execution of policies in pursuit of public health. The sooner we reach herd immunity, the faster we get to return to our normal lives – that is, to the extent of what ‘normal’ is in a post-pandemic world.