BEGINNING Friday, October 29, 2021, children with comorbidities aged 12 to 17 will receive their first dose of the Covid-19 vaccine in identified hospitals throughout Davao Region.
Dr. Raquel Montejo, Department of Health (DOH)-Davao Local Health Support Division chief, said in a virtual presser that this would mark the start of pediatric vaccination for those who fall under Priority Group A3.
Montejo said a ceremonial vaccination will happen at Southern Philippines Medical Center (SPMC).
Aside from SPMC, the vaccination for the Pediatric A3 group will also be rolled out at the Metro Davao Medical and Research Center and the Seamen's Hospital in R. Castillo.
Other hospitals in the region that will also be rolling out the vaccines for the Pediatric A3 group are Davao del Sur Provincial Hospital, Davao Regional Medical Center, Davao De Oro Provincial Hospital, and Davao Oriental Provincial Medical Center.
Prior to the vaccination, DOH-Davao conducted a town hall meeting with at least 400 parents and guardians, together with the vaccine experts from SPMC.
“To vaccinate is to protect. As we pursue to protect the children we are also protecting their loved ones. We assure everyone that vaccines are safe and effective. We encourage parents and children with co-morbidities to get vaccinated,” said Dr. Roy Ferrer, DOH Assistant Secretary of Health for Visayas and Mindanao.
DOH said children under A3 are those with underlying medical comorbidities and at risk of severe Covid-19. These are children identified with medical complexities, genetic conditions, neurologic conditions, metabolic or endocrine diseases, cardiovascular diseases, obesity, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), or tuberculosis.
DOH-Davao Director Dr. Annabelle Yumang said in a press statement that the pediatric population are now included in the vaccination campaign because some of them are still at risk of Covid-19 complications.
“Parents worry less when their kids are vaccinated... We hope to see parents and kids in vaccination sites,” Yumang said.
Moderna and Pfizer have an Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) for the A3 pediatric population: adolescents aged 12 to 17.
Parents seeking to get their kids vaccinated need to first secure a vaccination schedule with their hospital. Upon confirmation, they need to bring the following on the day of vaccination: a medical certificate detailing the child’s comorbidity, valid IDs of both the child and the parent or guardian, and any proof of filiation like the birth certificate.
The vaccine recipient must also be accompanied by the parent or guardian at the vaccination site.
Davao City Covid-19 Task Force Spokesperson Michelle Schlosser said in a radio interview on Wednesday, October 27, that they still await confirmation from other private hospitals to become venues for the vaccination for minors.