TACLOBAN CITY – The Department of Health (DOH) has announced that over 430,000 teenagers from 17 to 12 years old in the region are to be inoculated against coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
The DOH is now targeting the general populace on its vaccination campaign as it aims to achieve herd immunity before the end of this year.
Dr. Kristen Mae Yu, DOH-8 COVID-19 vaccination spokesperson, this early, has urged the teeners to register at their respective areas as she urged the parents to allow their children to get the vaccine for their safety.
The over 430,000 teeners targeted for the vaccination comprises eight percent of the region’s 4.8 million total population.
“For our parents ngayon pa lang educate yourself, get information regarding paano pwede o kalian pwedeng mabakunahan or the willingness sa ating mga teenager especially those within 12 to 17 na magpabakuna and encourage din natin ang ating mga kapamilya na may kabataan na may ganitong edad na magpabakuna,” she said during a media conference Monday (Oct.25).
Although the government had already set a schedule for vaccination for the young population, those with existing illnesses will be given priority, especially those who are confined in hospitals.
Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are to be used in the vaccination among the pediatric group, Uy said, adding that all vaccines are ‘effective’ and undergone clinical trials.
Yu added that prior to vaccination, there are safety protocols that needs to be followed before an adolescent gets the vaccine.
These includes having medical clearance or medical certification from physicians or pediatric doctors to ensure that they are safe when get vaccinated, and consent both from the teeners and their parents.
She added that getting vaccinated is not mandatory as this will depend of the decision of the parents and the child who is eligible for vaccination if they wanted to be vaccinated.
“However, like what we have said before, we at the DOH encourages our parents to base their decision on reliable sources of information because we cannot force a person (to get vaccinated). We give them the freedom of choice and to give them information that can help them decide if they will allow their children to be vaccinated with COVID-19 vaccines,” Uy said. (ROEL T. AMAZONA)
