Pediatric vaccination at the Philippine Children’s Medical Center. Image from PCMC
MANILA, Philippines — No serious adverse effects have so far been monitored since the government started its COVID-19 immunization of children aged 5 to 11 years, an official of the Department of Health (DOH) said Thursday.
Health Undersecretary Myrna Cabotaje said that as of Feb. 16, a total of 263,932 children aged 5 to 7 years across the country have already received their first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine.
“Walang serious na adverse side effects pero may walong kaso tayo ng non-serious adverse events,” she said in a Laging Handa public briefing.
(We did not record any serious side effects but there are eight cases of non-serious adverse events.)
Out of the eight cases, four reported experiencing sore or itchy throats. While most cases only reported rashes, Cabotaje said there are cases who reported having fever and vomiting.
Only the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine has an emergency use approval for kids aged 5 to 11 years old.
The government piloted the pediatric COVID-19 vaccination on children 5 to 11 years old on Feb. 7 in Metro Manila. It then rolled out the inoculation nationwide starting Feb. 14.
Children who received their first dose are expected to get their second dose after three weeks.