No hesitancy so far in vax rollout for minors

MANILA – No vaccine hesitancy among parents of minors aged 12 to 17 years old was recorded during the initial rollout of pediatric vaccination, according to an official of the Pediatric Infectious Disease Society of the Philippines (PIDSP).

At the Laging Handa briefing on Friday, PIDSP president Dr. Mary Ann Bunyi attributed the positive attitude of parents to an efficient information campaign by health authorities that “all Covid-19 vaccines are safe and effective”.

“Marahil po kasi dahil na-unawaan ng mga magulang na ang mga anak nila na merong comorbidities or may underlying medical conditions, sila po ‘yung mga bata na maaring magkaroon ng malubhang Covid-19 (Maybe because the parents understood that their children with comorbidities or with underlying medical conditions are most vulnerable to severe Covid-19),” she said.

Bunyi said the pilot inoculation program for minors on October 15 in eight hospitals in Metro Manila was a success.

The second rollout a week later involved 17 hospitals or sites near hospitals.

“So far po, naging tahimik at maayos po ang naging rollout ng pagbabakuna dito sa mga batang ito (the vaccination rollout for these children was so far peaceful and orderly),” she said, adding that the reported adverse events of Covid-19 vaccines to children did not exceed one percent.

Among the common side effects were pains at the injection site, headache, and drowsiness.

Bunyi said such mild reactions would last up to two days at the most.

The vaccine dosage given to children and adults is the same but only Pfizer and Moderna jabs were issued emergency use authorization for minors.

The nationwide vaccination of the entire 12 to 17 age group, with or without comorbidities, will begin on November 3.