Bulacan launches COVID-19 vaccination for children ages 5 to 11

CITY OF MALOLOS – To protect the pediatric population in the province, the Provincial Government of Bulacan started the vaccination rollout for children ages 5 to 11 years old during the Resbakuna Kids Launching held at the Hiyas ng Bulacan Convention Center here this morning.

Pfizer vaccines with lower dosage and lower concentration were given to a total of 200 vaccinees since Pfizer is the only vaccine that has received emergency use approval by the Philippines’ Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for children from the said age bracket.

According to National Task Force Against COVID-19 Chief Implementer and vaccine czar Sec. Carlito G. Galvez, Jr., the Pfizer vaccines were reformulated to minimize its adverse effects to children.

“Para mawala ‘yung takot ng mga magulang, mayroon na tayong nabakunahan na more or less 20,000. Nakikita natin na very safe itong Pfizer dahil unang una, nagdaan ito ng matagal na ekperimentasyon at mga trials; at itong reformulated vaccines na ito may 10 micrograms lamang upang mabawasan ‘yung adverse effects nito,” Galvez said.

Rogie Ramos, mother to an 11-year-old vaccinee, said that she agreed to let her son be vaccinated for him to be protected especially before face-to-face classes start.

“Gusto ko po talagang mabakunahan ang anak ko bilang paghahanda po sa face-to-face classes. Siyempre po, gusto ko po na protektado ang anak ko sa sakit lalo na at sa ospital din nagtatrabaho ang tatay niya. Bilang magulang, sana piliin din po ng ibang mga magulang na pabakunahan ang anak nila. Huwag po sana sila matakot dahil makabubuti ang bakuna sa bawat isa,” she said.

Meanwhile, Governor Daniel R. Fernando encouraged the parents and assured them that vaccines are safe for their children.

“Dama ko po ang pangamba ng mga magulang. Tulad po ng sinasabi natin noong simula pa lamang, wala po tayong dapat ipag-alala sapagkat dumaan po ito sa masusing pag-aaral para tiyakin ang kaligtasan nito. Sa katunayan, marami pong pediatrician ang sumang-ayon at sumuporta sa desisyong ito dahil para po ito sa kapakanan ng mga kabataan, bilang paghahanda sa face-to-face classes at magabayan silang makabalik sa normal na pagtahak sa buhay,” the governor said.

The vaccines are also safe for young people with illness/comorbidities since it has only mild side effects while children with medical conditions such as medical complexity, genetic, neurologic conditions, metabolic/endocrine disease, cardiovascular disease, obesity, tuberculosis, renal disorder, lung disease and immunocompromised children are required to visit their doctors and present medical certificates. ###