Gov’t adviser on COVID-19 backs mobility restrictions for unvaxxed kids

MANILA, Philippines — Special adviser to the National Task Force against COVID-19 Dr. Ted Herbosa on Wednesday said he supports proposals to restrict unvaccinated minors, particularly those below 11 years old, from going to malls for leisure activities.

He pointed out that children are still susceptible to SARS-CoV-2, the virus causing COVID-19, and they are vulnerable as they are not yet eligible for vaccination.

“‘Yung ating mga kabataan below 12, dahil hindi pa natin nababakunahan, malamang sa kanila maglipat lipat ‘yung virus at baka mahawa pati yung ating mga vaccinated at yung mga unvaccinated na adults natin so very impt na ma-protect natin sila,” he said in a Laging Handa briefing.

(Our children who are below 12 years old, since we have not vaccinated them yet, the epidemic could transfer to them and they could get infected and infect others so we have to protect them.)

“Ako payag ako, kung ako tatanungin, payag akong i-restrict or i-regulate ang pagpasok ng maliliit na bata 11 and below sa ating mga mall for leisure,” he added.

(I agree with restricting or regulating children below 11 years old from going to malls for leisure activities.)

He said children should only be allowed to go to malls for errands but they should not stay too long and go too frequently.

“Unless may talagang kailangan at kung gagawin ay dapat siguro ay kung pwede mag-face mask, at kung pwede sandali lang doon sa mall at ‘wag magtagal o maglagi,” he said.

He encouraged parents and guardians to instead bring children to open spaces like parks or visit relatives instead, where the number of people is controlled.

Children have been allowed to go out after the government relaxed restrictions in Metro Manila, placing the region under Alert Level 2. However, many have expressed alarm over the number of families bringing their children to malls and other crowded places.

A 2-year-old child was earlier reported to have contracted COVID-19 after going to a shopping mall but the Department of Health (DOH) said the cause of the child’s infection was “uncertain” and was “multifactorial.”

The government in October started vaccinating minors but only those in the 12- to 17-year-old bracket. Vaccine brands that were approved by the Food and Drug Administration for minors, which are Pfizer and Moderna, are only for this age group.

President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday reported that over 3 million minors have been vaccinated against COVID-19.

Duterte earlier urged local government units to pass ordinances that will bar children from entering malls and other public places to protect them from COVID-19 infection.

/MUF