The reformulated coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccine of Pfizer can give up 90 percent protection to children aged five to 11, said infectious disease expert and Vaccine Expert Panel (VEP) member Dr. Rontgene Solante on Monday, Feb. 7.

“‘Yung trial na ginawa sa United States (US), that it was 90 percent protective against infection and severe COVID-19. Mataas ang protection. Tapos ‘yung data sa US naman, ‘yung 8.7 million na mga batang nabigyan ng bakuna, it prevented the complication of COVID up to 91 percent, especially ‘yung tinatawang nating multisystem inflammatory syndrome (The trial conducted in the US showed that it was 90 percent protective against infection and severe COVID-19. It gives high protection rate. Meanwhile, the data in the US – among the 8.7 million children who were vaccinated, it prevented the complication of COVID up to 91 percent, especially the multisystem inflammatory syndrome),” said Solante during the “Laging Handa” public briefing.

According to Solante, the same vaccine formula and vaccine brand used in the Philippines was also used in vaccinating children abroad. He likewise reiterated that it was proven effective and safe with the low number of recorded adverse events among children in this age group.

“Pareho lang ‘yung formulation na ginagamit nito sa ibang bansa na nagpapatupad na ng pagbabakuna sa five to 11 years old. This vaccine has been proven to be very safe because of the very low adverse events na nakita na doon sa mga bansa na sa mga five to 11 years old (The same formulation was used in other countries that have already implemented the vaccinations among five to 11 years old. This vaccine has been proven to be very safe because of the low adverse events seen in other countries that have vaccinated people among this age group),” he added.

Meanwhile, he added that the side effects, if experienced, were only limited to pain in the injection site, body ache, and headache.

“Tandaan natin na ang adverse events nito are always only self limited, ang pinaka common ay ‘yung pain – masakit doon sa binakunahan na braso, mayroong iba na masakit ang katawan, masakit ang ulo, but most of the time it is self limited (Let us remember that the adverse side events are usually only self limited. The most common is the pain in the injection site, body ache, and headache. It is self limited most of the time),” he added.

Solante disclosed that only less than two percent of the vaccinated population in the US have experienced adverse side effects. Of this percentage, no deaths were recorded and all patients have recovered.

Resbakuna for Kids or COVID-19 vaccination among children aged five to 11 has commenced in the Philippines on Monday, Feb. 7, in hopes of ramping up the vaccination in the country, as well as to protect the children against the viral transmission of COVID-19.