OVER 100 children were vaccinated as the Ministry of Health in the Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (MOH-Barmm) and Department of Health (DOH) launched the vaccination of children aged five to 11 Monday, February 7, 2022, at the Cotabato Regional and Medical Center (CRMC).
Those inoculated with coronavirus disease (Covid-19) vaccine included the sons and daughters of physicians, nurses and their relatives.
The launching was in line with the nationwide opening of pilot vaccination sites for children, aimed to protect every member of Filipino families, not only adults and youths, but also children and kids, against the deadly virus.
Dr. Bai Samirah Ampatuan-Singgon, CRMC pediatric department chairperson, said that "protecting our children means protecting the hope of our motherland and allowing them to live in a new normal way of life so that we can reach their full potentials."
Dr. Ishmael Dimaren, CRMC Medical Center chief, assured the parents that the vaccine for children is safe.
"This vaccine for aged five to 11 years old was reformulated by an expert and considered very safe for the children to be vaccinated," Dimaren said.
Dr. Meyasser Patadon, Cotabato City Health officer, said that more than 36,000 youths have already been vaccinated in the city with no reported death and serious adverse effects.
Dr. Bashary Latiph, MOH minister, encouraged the parents to get their children vaccinated for their protection and immunity and stressed that the vaccine is approved by Food and Drugs Authority (FDA) as safe and effective.
Dr. Aristides Tan, DOH-Soccsksargen director, expressed his appreciation to the management of CRMC for consistently supporting the implementation of DOH programs such as vaccination hub in the region.
"I am hoping that our extensive coverage of vaccination being the CRMC as the pilot hub on these ages will be successful and [with] high turnouts," Tan said.
The MOH-Barmm targets to inoculate about 795,012, while DOH-Soccsksargen aimed to vaccinate 754,224 children aged five to 11. (SunStar Zamboanga)