THE “Resbakuna: Kids” vaccination against the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) for children aged five to 11 kicked off in Davao Region on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2022.
In Davao de Oro, the kick-off ceremony was led by Provincial Women’s Development Council Chair Sholai Lim and the eight-year-old son of Governor Jayvee Tyron Uy, Althor John Uy, who was the inaugural vaccinee for the pediatric age group in the province.
The Provincial Government of Davao de Oro is targeting to inoculate 80 children on its first day of vaccination rollout held at Zubiri Gym in Nabunturan Municipal.
In Davao City, the Southern Philippines Medical Center is the venue for the pilot rollout of the pediatric vaccination wherein a magic show, food carts, and photo booths intended for the children are set up.
There was also a lively rollout at the Davao Regional Medical Center in Tagum City which had clowns and superhero characters, such as Spider-man that entertained the young vaccinees.
During the virtual orientation for parents, a consultant of the Pediatric Department of the Davao de Oro Provincial Hospital-Montivista, Dr. Sally Celeste Figueroa, said the vaccine provides protection from a severe case of the disease, hospitalization, and avoids developing complications.
“Vaccination is the best way to protect children from Covid-19 thus considering vaccination for our children will be beneficial in providing protection and reducing the public health burden of Covid-19 in children,” Figueroa said.
Other health officials in Davao region and local government units echoed the same sentiment.
Dr. Ricardo Audan, Medical Center chief of SPMC, emphasized that children are not exempted from contracting the coronavirus.
“Para sila ay safe sa mga (So they are safe during) gatherings with their parents and prevent critical cases. This is the best gift we can give on Valentine’s Day,” Audan said during the kick-off ceremony in SPMC.
The regional director of the Department of Health (DOH)-Davao, Dr. Annabelle Yumang, also said the vaccines for children are proven safe and effective.
A 0.2ml dose of the Pfizer-BioNTech will be administered to young children using a specialized smaller-size syringe. The Pfizer vaccine is also the only vaccine approved by DOH to be used for the said age group.
At least 790,236 children in the region are targeted to be vaccinated by DOH-Davao.