In the course of this COVID-19 pandemic, all of us likely waited for a solution, and that solution turned out to be vaccines that was created to hopefully stop the transmission of COVID-19. At first, frontliners were the ones who first got the COVID-19 vaccines, since they are the ones that have a higher risk of getting COVID-19. Eventually, adults and those who are 18 and above got the opportunity to take the COVID-19 vaccines. And most recently, pediatric vaccination started among children aged 5-11 and teenagerd ages 12-17.

            The DOH reminds the Filipino people that vaccination is not mandatory and consent is a must. All COVID-19 vaccines being given by the government are guaranteed safe, effective, and of quality, which is backed up by scientific research and data. The DOH further emphasizes that getting children vaccinated against COVID-19 remains to be the best protection against hospitalization caused by severe and critical symptoms. In a time where misinformation and fake news is vastly spreading in many different online platforms, we must always try to check whether or not these information see online are reliable and if it comes from a trusted source. With the ongoing pediatric vaccination for children aged 5-11, we must not believe the things we see online claiming that the COVID-19 vaccines as unsafe and dangerous for children. For children aged 5-11, a study of about 2,250 volunteers shows 90.7% efficacy for the vaccine in preventing symptomatic COVID-19 infection. With these reliable information, it is safe to say that for the most part the COVID-19 vaccines administered to children and teenagers are safe.

            If you are a father, or a mother, or a guardian who is still scared to vaccinate your child, stop worrying, because even though it is okay for you to worry about your child’s health, it is not okay for you to worry about things you see on social media that claims that COVID-19 vaccines are dangerous for kids. So vaccinate your child as soon as possible, so that we can also recover form this pandemic as soon as possible.


References:

DOH, NVOC, NTF LAUNCH “RESBAKUNA KIDS” CAMPAIGN FOR 5 TO 11 YEAR OLDS | Department of Health website. (2022). Doh.gov.ph. https://doh.gov.ph/press-release/DOH-NVOC-NTF-LAUNCH-RESBAKUNA-KIDS-CAMPAIGN-FOR-5-TO-11-YEAR-OLDS

How Do We Know the COVID-19 Vaccine Is Safe for Kids? (2021). Muhealth.org. https://www.muhealth.org/our-stories/how-do-we-know-covid-19-vaccine-safe-kids

John Michael Mugas. (2022, February). DOH: Ilocos region targets to vaccinate 25,000 kids vs COVID-19 in 5 days. INQUIRER.net; INQUIRER.net. https://newsinfo.inquirer.net/1554619/doh-ilocos-region-targets-to-vaccinate-25000-kids-vs-covid-19-in-5-days