THE Department of Health and the National Task Force Against COVID-19 (NTF) did not blink an eye regarding its vaccination rollout for 5-11 year-old kids despite the petition filed at the Quezon City Regional Trial Court that seeks to stop the planned vaccination for the mentioned age group.
In a statement, the DOH acknowledged the right of individuals or groups to file a case and they will just let the legal process take its course.
But for now, the DOH said they will push through with the planned pediatric vaccination by the national government, reiterating that doing so will provide additional protection to all sectors in society, including the children and vulnerable groups.
The DOH that vaccinating the younger members of the population went through careful study by experts and were already tried and tested in other countries such as the United States, which has a very strict regulatory body.
The agency again reiterated that the vaccines against COVID-19 that have been used in the Philippines were proven safe and effective.
The vaccines to be used for the 5-11 age group were reformulated or with a lower dosage and have been administered already to more than 8.1 million children around the world and there were no reports of adverse effects or even deaths.
The DOH also pointed out that as of now, there are already more than 100,000 5-11 year-old kids have already registered for vaccination. This means there are many parents who want their children to get the jab and have complete trust that their children will be fully protected against COVID-19.
As a reminder, the DOH said that parents are obligated to sign a consent form before they allow their minor child to receive vaccination.