DOH: Only 4 out of over 52,000 vaxxed kids aged 5 to 11 got minor reactions

MANILA, Philippines — Only four out of 52,262 children aged 5 to 11 who were vaccinated against COVID-19 have experienced minor adverse reactions after taking the jabs, the Department of Health (DOH) said Friday.

DOH Undersecretary Maria Rosario Vergeire said these children were inoculated in 56 sites in the country.

“Apat lamang po ang nakaranas ng adverse events following immunization (AEFI) at lahat po nito ay mild reactions lamang,” she said in an online press briefing.

(Only four experienced adverse events following immunization and all of them were mild reactions.)

According to Vergeire, among the reactions experienced by the four children were pain on the injection site, rashes, a slight increase in blood pressure, fever, and vomiting.

Vergeire said these adverse reactions were properly managed and the children immediately recovered.

The health official also assured parents that healthcare workers deployed in vaccination sites are ready to attend to AEFIs that may be experienced by children.

“Paalala po sa ating mga magulang na huwag po tayong matakot at mangamba dahil handa po ang ating mga healthcare workers at ang ating vaccination sites upang tugunan ang anumang AEFI na maaaring maramdaman ng inyong mga anak,” she said.

(We are urging our parents to not be afraid and apprehensive because our healthcare workers in vaccination sites are ready to address any AEFI that your children may experience.)

Meanwhile, a total of 662,318 vaccine doses were administered during the first day of the third installment of the government’s Bayanihan Bakunahan program on Thursday. According to the DOH, 442,346 of these are primary doses, while 219,972 are booster shots. Jericho Zafra, Inquirer trainee

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