Duterte cautions parents: Don’t expose your unvaxxed kids to COVID-19

A family spends time together in a big shopping mall in Quezon City on Saturday, November 6, 2021. The government’s pandemic task force has placed the entire Metro Manila under COVID-19 Alert Level 2, allowing minors inside malls, since November 5. INQUIRER.net file photo / Katherine G. Adraneda

MANILA, Philippines — President Rodrigo Duterte on Tuesday cautioned parents against bringing their children to crowded places such as malls as they could be exposing their kids to COVID-19.

Duterte made the remark in a taped public address, which was aired on Tuesday morning, following reports that a two-year-old child contracted COVID-19 after going to a mall.

“Alam ko kayong mga magulang gustong-gusto ninyong ipasyal ang mga anak ninyo after staying for so long inside your home due to lockdowns,” he said.

(I know you parents really want to bring your children out after staying for so long inside your home due to lockdowns.)

“Pero isipin ninyo kung maliliit pa ang mga anak ninyo at hindi pa bakunado, do not expose them to the virus,” he added.

(But think that your children are still young and are still unvaccinated against the disease. Do not expose them to the virus.)

The President pointed out that children do not have the necessary “defense mechanism” against COVID-19 as they are yet to be vaccinated against the severe respiratory illness.

“Wala pa silang depensa. They have no defense mechanism in their system or body sa COVID-19. Hindi katulad ng mga bakunado na,” he said.

(They do not have any defense yet against the virus. Not unlike those who are already vaccinated against COVID-19.)

He urged local government units to pass ordinances that would prohibit children below 12 years old from going to malls and other public places frequened by a lot of people.

Flocks of people, mostly families, have started going to malls along with their children after Metro Manila was eased to Alert Level 2, allowing kids to go out of their homes.

JPV