COVID-19 STATUS. Dr. Camille Justine Malinit, DOH-CAR medical officer III, said on Thursday (June 16, 2022) they hold town hall meetings to correct the misinformation that children would not be able to handle the coronavirus disease 2019 vaccines. She said based on data, very few children experienced minor adverse effects. (PNA photo by Liza T. Agoot)
BAGUIO CITY – The Department of Health in the Cordillera Administrative Region (DOH-CAR) has resorted to town hall meetings to convince people to have their children vaccinated against the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19).
Dr. Camille Justine Malinit, DOH-CAR medical officer III, in a press briefing on Thursday said they hope to correct the misinformation that the frail bodies of children cannot handle the Covid-19 vaccines.
Social media is used aside from face-to-face meetings, which are held to reach more people.
DOH-CAR data showed an 81.16-percent vaccination rate or 1,202,559 individuals of the 1,481,793 eligible target population who have received the full dose.
It, however, indicated that 169,281 pediatric populations have yet to receive a single dose of the Covid-19 vaccine.
This is aside from the 39,611 individuals aged 12 to 17 years old who have not received a single dose yet.
Malinit said the parents' consent is needed for their children to get vaccinated.
"We want to inform the parents that based on data, it is in the children's population that very few experienced the minor adverse effects after vaccination," she said.
She said vaccines for the pediatric population have a special formulation that is tailored-fit for children.
Malinit added that they are hoping that with face-to-face classes, there will be more parents and guardians who will opt to have their children or wards be vaccinated with Covid-19.
DOH-CAR assured the public there is no shortage of vaccines, including those for the children. (PNA)
