THE Davao City Covid-19 Task Force said it is waiting for official guidelines to implement the use of CoronaVac-Sinovac vaccine for minors, Spokesperson Dr. Michelle Schlosser said on March 18, 2022.
“We have to be backed up with a guideline para kabalo ta unsaon ang management (so we will know how to manage) in case naay mahitabo (something happens). We will always make sure it is safe for recipients,” Schlosser said during a radio interview, emphasizing that the official guidelines from the Department of Health (DOH) and other concerned government agencies are essential.
The Chinese-made CoronaVac-Sinovac vaccine against Covid-19 was recently approved for emergency use authorization (EUA) for the use of the pediatric population aged six years old and above.
IP Biotech Group, a pharmaceutical consortium that facilitated the initial arrival of Sinovac procured by the private sector, said the Food and Drug Administration released the EUA approval on March 12.
“Making this vaccine available to the younger age segment is a game-changer protecting the country’s youth and preserving recent gains in controlling the pandemic. This will also ensure greater access and vaccine equity for the Philippines,” IP Biotech Group chairman Enrique Gonzales said.
However, Schlosser reiterated that the City Government of Davao has enough supply of the BioNTech-Pfizer vaccine used for the younger population. Currently, the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines are the only vaccines to have an EUA for minors.
“Mao na gina-encourage namo ang mga parents na daghan kaayo gi-open na vaccination hub para sa five to 11 years old,” she said, adding that the vaccine, and fever medicines for minor adverse effects are free to avail.
(That’s why we are encouraging the parents, we have a lot of vaccination hubs open for five to 11 years old.)
Meanwhile, vaccines nearing expiration are being prioritized for distribution in different communities to avoid wastage.
“Atoang vaccination cluster, naa sila’y mga backup plans. Isa sa mga backup plans nila kay paghapit na ma-expire ang mga bakuna ginahatag nila sa mga street vendors, sa atong mga kinulong, naa sa rehab,” Schlosser said.
(Our vaccine cluster has backup plans. One of these plans is to give the vaccines to street vendors, inmates, or rehab patients.)
The amount of vaccine wastage was not specified, but Schlosser said it is unavoidable to totally have zero wastage of the vaccine, especially considering the low turnout of the booster dose vaccine rollout.
“Daghan sila (vaccination cluster) means (The vaccination cluster has a lot of ways) to avoid wastage but just like any other vaccination (drive), naa gyod na’y wastage, labi na karon kay nagahinay atong booster doses (wastage will happen, especially because of the low turnout for booster doses),” she said.
Based on the DOH-Davao Covid-19 Case Bulletin, as of March 14, 2022, at least 377,481 were administered with the booster dose vaccine out of 2,932,423 fully vaccinated individuals in Davao Region. (With reports from the Philippine News Agency)