WITH face-to-face classes set for full implementation next month, the Department of Health (DOH) yesterday said the number of children aged 5 to 11 years, who have been vaccinated against coronavirus disease (COVID-19), remained low.
Health Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire, DOH officer-in-charge, said, “When we look at our accomplishments for vaccination, those kids 5 to 11 years old have the lowest accomplishment.”
“They are just less than 50 percent, or around 46 percent, in accomplishments for the 5 to 11 years old age group,” she added.
As of October 10, only about 5.1 million children have been fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
The vaccination drive for the 5 to 11 age group started in early February.
Vergeire said hesitancy of parents to get their children vaccinated is the biggest challenge to the government’s immunization drive.
With face-to-face classes set to be fully implemented come November 2, Vergeire reiterated the government’s call for parents to allow their kids to be jabbed.
“We are continuously encouraging parents, especially now that we will have full face-to-face classes, to have their children vaccinated so that they will have full protection against COVID-19,” said Vergeire.
As to COVID-19 vaccines for children below 5 years, Vergeire said the government is still waiting for the evaluation and study of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
Pfizer Inc. has applied for an emergency use authority (EUA) for its COVID-19 vaccine for children aged six months to four years old.
