THE Department of Health (DOH)-Davao targets to inoculate 790,236 children ages five to 11 years old in Davao Region for the Covid-19 pediatric vaccination that will start on February 14, 2022.
Dr. Janis Olavides, focal person of the Covid-19 Vaccination Program of DOH-Davao, said they are only waiting for the arrival of the pediatric vaccines and final guidelines from the national office of DOH.
“Nag-inform na ang national na for the regions gyud (The national office already informed) it will be February 14. Fixed na because the arrival of the vaccines will be over the weekend,” said Olavides during a virtual presser on February 4.
According to Olavides, the regions will follow suit based on the guidelines and implementation of the pilot run of the pediatric vaccination in the National Capital Region (NCR), which will start on Monday, February 7.
The pediatric vaccination will only administer the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccines because it is currently the only vaccine against Covid-19 that is approved by DOH for the pediatric population.
“Pfizer lang atong ihatag samga bata kasi based sa studies and the guidelines we hve coming from the DOH, safer ang pfizer for kids,” said Dr. Michelle Schlosser, spokesperson of Davao City Covid-19 Task Force during a radio interview.
(We will only administer Pfizer because based on the studies and guidelines we have from DOH, Pfizer is safer for kids.)
At the same time, children between 5 to 11 years old will only receive a 0.2mL dose of the vaccine using a smaller-sized syringe, rather than the 0.3mL given for the rest of the adult population.
This is because children will need a lower dose of the vaccine since they are an especially young age group.
As per the venue and registration, Olavides said the Southern Philippines Medical Center and other hospitals participating as the initial venue for the pilot rollout will facilitate their own pre-registration system, but Olavides clarified that walk-in appointments will also be catered.
“Sa pagkakaron na still planning pa atong LGUs, the hospital level pa they are doing the pre-registration,” said Olavides.
(The hospitals are already doing the pre-registration while the LGUs are still planning.)
The focal person also mentioned that the City Government of Davao will also utilize the SafeDavao QR as an avenue for pre-registration, but further details are still being finalized.
Olavides said that aside from protection against the Covid-19 virus, the pediatric vaccination will serve as an added protection if face-to-face classes reopen.
“Naa nay additional protection atong mga kabatanunan mao nang mas maayo pud na masabtans a tanan kung unsa ka importante atong bakuna para sa atong five to 11 years old,” said Olavides.
(The vaccination gives additional protection for the children, that’s why everyone must understand how important the vaccination is for 5 to 11-year-olds.)