5 to 11 age group vaxx numbers daily increase noted
Vaccination numbers for the 5 to 11 age group are steadily climbing since launching last Valentine’s day.
Data from the Baguio City Health Services Office (CHSO) shows 272 children vaccinated on February 14; 495 on Feb. 15; 741 on Feb. 16; and 954 on Feb. 17; a daily increase of 200 to 300 vaccinees a day.
With the 5 to 11 age group population pegged at 46,955; 2,462 or 5.24% are now partially jabbed, on the fourth day.
As of date, there were no reports of vaccine side effects on the younger populace.
City Epidemiology and Surveillance Unit (CESU) physician Donabel Tubera-Panes’ 5-year old daughter gamely went through the vaccination process without any complaints afterwards. Mayor Benjamin Magalong himself attests that his 6-year old grandson was jabbed but did not experience any side effects.
The launching and ceremonial vaccination for children was a fun-filled occasion with costumed vaccinators, and vaccinees themselves. Preparations were done to quell anxiety in children, and their guardians as well.
The specially formulated vaccines have the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) Emergency Use Authorization (EUA) and are safe, effective and efficacious, Dr. Galpo said. The children’s jabs consist of 0.2 mL, a formulation different from the adults’ vaccine concentration.
According to City Health Services Office head Dr. Rowena Galpo, parents should register their children at bakuna.baguio.gov.ph for a QR code to be presented during vaccination. Identification documents, signed consent and filiation or proof of relationship between the child and parent/guardian should be presented at the vaccine site. Filiation documents may be birth certificate, school, church or other authenticated forms with names of the child and parent/guardian appearing on the same documents.
Parents are urged to prepare and accompany their children through the process of registration, screening, informed consent processing, vaccination and post-vaccination monitoring at the venues.
They should also be responsible for educating and communicating to their children for their safety, for protection from viruses and expected variants.
The vaccine schedules for the adult population, pediatric: 12 to 17, and 5 to 11 age groups can be viewed at the Baguio city health services office facebook page.
According to Mayor Magalong, vaccinees may have their booster shots or be jabbed in the city. They just have to register online at bakuna.baguio.gov.ph and present vaccination cards, as proof of first/second dose, and identification documents. – Julie G. Fianza
