Overall, Galvez said the first day of the program was a success, as no adverse effects were recorded among the 5-11 year olds who were vaccinated.
Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, February 8) — Only one in over 13,000 children vaccinated on the first day of the pediatric inoculation program experienced minor side effects, vaccine czar Carlito Galvez said Tuesday.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire confirmed an 11-year-old from Parañaque experienced mild rashes. She said the child was given medicine while at the vaccination site and the allergies subsided shortly after.
The government launched the vaccination drive for children aged 5-11 in four regions on Monday. The National Task Force against COVID-19 said 13,182 children in this age group have been vaccinated as of Tuesday noon.
About 500,000 children have registered for vaccination, Health Secretary Francisco Duque III said.
“Maraming magulang ang nagpahayag ng kanilang positibong karanasan sa ating bakunahan. Karamihan sa mga nabakunahan ay walang naranasang reaksyon. Ang ating mga bakuna ay garantisadong ligtas, epektibo, at aprubado ng mga dalubhasa,” Vergeire said in a media briefing.
[Translation: Parents expressed their positive experiences. Most of the vaccination did not experience any reaction. Our vaccines are guaranteed to be safe, effective, and approved by experts.]
In another online media conference, Philippine Pediatric Society President Joselyn Eusebio emphasized that vaccination is the best way to protect children from COVID-19 and its severe complications. She added that experts will continuously monitor vaccine data to provide updates to serve as guide in the inoculation of children.
Galvez said the program will be expanded in the regions on Feb. 14, as 5.2 million more doses of the reformulated Pfizer vaccine are expected to arrive this month.
He assured the public that these vaccines are good for children since other countries using the shots – like the United States – have not seen any major side effects among the age group.
