Expert wants COVID-19 vax for kids to stop virus opportunity to mutate

Dr. Edsel Salvana. File photo from PCOO-OGMPA

MANILA, Philippines — Infectious disease expert Dr. Edsel Salvana is the latest to join the push to allow the COVID-19 vaccination of children aged below five, warning that gaps in the immunity wall can lead to mutations in the coronavirus that causes the disease.

Salvana during the Laging Handa briefing on Tuesday said that children, if remain without COVID-19 vaccinations, may become reservoirs for the virus and be the source of mutations that will lead to new variants.

“Of course very important, habang may butas po tayo sa ating immunity wall lalo na do’n sa mga bata below five years old, pwede po ‘yang maging parang reservoir ng ating mga virus at pwede pong nagmu-mutate d’yan ‘yong virus.  Again in the United States they’ve already approved this for five and below so we’re thinking na it’s just a matter of time na ma-aprubahan dito,” he said.

(If there is a hole in our immunity wall especially for children below five years old, that may become a some kind of reservoir for the virus to mutate.)

“And hopefully maro-roll out na rin para mas mabawasan ‘yong pwedeng mahawa at magkaroon ng severe COVID dito sa Pilipinas,” he added.

(We’re hoping we can roll this out also so we can reduce the people who can be infected by severe COVID in the Philippines.)

Salvana also said that it would be a good idea for the Department of Health (DOH) to purchase new generation vaccines, or vials that are believed to be more effective in protecting humans against latest variants like Omicron.

However, the former DOH adviser said that he does not think it would be needed for those who have already gotten their booster shots, especially for the non-vulnerable population.

“I think it’s a good thing kasi unang-una the data na nakita natin dito sa mga bivalent vaccines, ‘yong mga next generation vaccines, mukhang mas maganda ‘yong antibody, ‘yong neutralizing antibody titers na nage-generate niya against do’n sa mga bagong variants kasama d’yan ang Omicron,” Salvana explained.

(Next generation vaccines seems to be good, it has good neutralizing antibody titers that generate to fight the new variants including Omicron.)

The new generation vaccines may work better with the vulnerable population, or the elderly and those with comorbidities, according to Salvana.  However, a guideline should be placed especially if the vaccine candidate has already gotten a third booster shot.

This is not the first time that someone has asked the DOH to expedite the formulation of a policy on administering COVID-19 vaccines to children below five years old.  On Monday, Iloilo 3rd District Rep. Lorenz Defensor said that vaccines should be made available to this age bracket given a more relaxed mask protocol and face-to-face classes in pre-school institutions.

READ: With rules now relaxed, DOH asked to speed up COVID-19 shots for kids 

During the deliberation of DOH’s proposed 2023 budget before the House committee on appropriations, Defensor asked why there is no policy for vaccinating children aged under five when some of the vaccines used in the Philippines — Pfizer and Moderna — are being used to immunize the said age bracket in the United States (US).

Pfizer and Moderna are vaccine brands developed in the US, which both the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have allowed to be used for children.

As of now, only children aged five and above are eligible for COVID-19 vaccinations, albeit in doses of reduced concentration to ensure their safety.  Vaccination of eligible children started last January 2022, but the government has not followed up since then on when children aged lower would receive their shots.

However, a lot of children aged four and below have started to move outdoors also, especially with children aged three to four attending preparatory schools like day-care centers and nursery institutions.

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