THE Philippine Medical Association (PMA) yesterday appealed to parents not to bring their unvaccinated children, particularly those aged 11 years or younger, to shopping malls and other indoor venues due to lingering risks of the coronavirus disease (COVID-19).
PMA president Dr. Benito Atienza, speaking on the public briefing Laging Handa, echoed the warning of the Philippine Pediatric Society, which said that very young children aged 1 to 4 years old are considered high-risk for potentially fatal cases of COVID-19.
“Children aged 1 to 4 have shown an increase in COVID-19 cases, with reported deaths.
There is a high incidence for that age bracket. The Philippine Pediatric Society had released a statement on this,” Atienza said.
Rather than malls and other indoor places where big crowds tend to gather, the PMA president suggested that children should be taken to open areas like parks and outdoor recreational venues.
He reminded Filipinos that only 12 years old and beyond have been allowed to be administered COVID-19 vaccines.
“Keep them away from possible exposure. If they need to get out at all, the better option are parks and open spaces where social distancing is observed, instead of indoor locations,” Atienza said.
‘ISOLATED INCIDENT’
The Department of Health (DOH) yesterday frowned over proposals to reimpose restrictions on children being allowed outdoors while calling the infection of a two-year old boy with COVID-19 after going to the mall as an “isolated incident.”
In a virtual press briefing, Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said they do not believe that children should again be restricted to indoors, especially with the Department of Education (DepEd) already pilot testing the resumption of face-to-face classes.
“This was an isolated case. Let’s not say that we should again restrict children,” said Vergeire. “It doesn’t have to be a return to preventing minors from going out again, especially now that we are going to have face to face classes already.”
Vergeire said minors were allowed to go out in response to their mental and physical health needs. “Please remember, children were allowed to go out for them to be able to exercise, to get sunlight, and to interact with other kids. It is not for them to be brought to crowded establishments like malls. These children are not vaccinated. They have no protection in crowded areas. Let us be more cautious in protecting our children,” she also said.
Vergeire said local government units, private establishments, and the parents and guardians should do their part in protecting children.
“Business establishments must be able to comply with what was issued as policy of IATF-EID with regards to capacity. On the other hand, LGUs must strictly enforce the policy on required capacities,” she said.
“And to parents and guardians, if they are going to crowded places, don’t bring your children with you anymore,” she added. — With Gerard Naval
