DAVAO CITY – The Bangsamoro Government's Ministry of Health (MOH) and the Department of Health - Region 12 (DOH-12) officially launched the COVID-19 pediatric vaccination hub for kids aged 5 to 11 years old at the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (CRMC) on Monday, Feb. 7.
In a statement on Tuesday, Feb. 8, the Bangsamoro Government said the inoculation targets to administer "about 795,012 in BARMM and 754,224 in Region XII aged 5 to 11 years old."
During Monday's launching, over 100 children were vaccinated "including the sons and daughters of doctors, nurses, and their relatives."
CRMC Pediatric Department Chairperson Dr. Bai Samirah Ampatuan-Singgon, said protecting the children means "protecting the hope of our motherland and allowing them to live in a new normal way of life so that we can reach their full potentials”.
“In fact, more than 8.7 million children globally have been vaccinated and 97.5% of those did not exhibit any side effects and no deaths,” Dr. Singgon said.
Cotabato City Health Officer Dr. Meyasser Patadon also added that over 36,000 youths have already been vaccinated in the city “with no reports of death and serious adverse effects.”
Meanwhile, CRMC Medical Center Chief II Dr. Ishmael R. Dimaren assured the parents that the vaccine for children is safe.
“This vaccine for ages 5 to 11 years old was reformulated by an expert and considered very safe for the children to be vaccinated," he added.
For his part, DOH-XII Regional Director Dr. Aristides Conception Tan said he hopes the vaccination at the CRMC will be successful.
Health Minister Dr. Bashary A. Latiph urged the parents to get their children vaccinated and added that it is Halal certified.
“After almost 18 months of worrying every time that our children get sick in our homes, we have feared that our children may get the COVID-19 disease. It is now the right time for them to get vaccinated and protected from the COVID-19, especially our children who are going back to school (for the face-to-face classes),” Latiph said.